Fundraiser

A dance under a circus-sized tent at Aberdeen Proving Ground has raised more than $300,000 for a network of houses that offer free lodging to the families of wounded warriors. The first Support Our Heroes Ball held in Maryland drew more than 500 guests, a sell-out crowd, Saturday to the Harford County Army post. Many of those dancers were newcomers to Aberdeen, who have transferred here from Fort Monmouth, N.J., where the ball tradition began and has raised nearly $1 million in the last six years.

Here's a round-up of some retail events: Giant Food is opening a 48,500 square foot store at 1010 W. 41 st Street in Baltimore on Friday, March 30 th .  The Green Spring Tower Square Giant is holding a ribbon cutting the night before at 6 p.m. The store, which has been expanded, used to be a Fresh & Green store.  Among the features, a self-serve coffee station, full-service floral department, international section as well as hand-held scanners that customers can use to scan and bag their groceries as they shop.

Asked and answered. I was only the other day complaining about Saturday night fundraisers and benefits. Why, I asked, don't more organizations throw their events on Mondays, when chefs and restaurant owners have the time and can spare the resources to participate. The Biggest Little Tailgate Party , scheduled for Monday, Oct. 17 at M&T Bank Stadium is a perfectly conceived event. Produced by the Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Maryland Mentoring Partnership, it sounds like actual fun. Guests at the family friendly event get to play games on the field of M&T Bank Stadium, take an exclusive tour of the Ravens' locker room, mingle with cheerleaders and even meet Ravens #93, Cory Redding.

The committee that administers Laurel CrimeLine will hold a fundraiser Thursday, Oct. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Tampico Grill, 42 Washington Blvd. (Route 1 southbound). CrimeLine provides rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of criminals committing certain crimes in the city of Laurel. The city created a CrimeLine committee to administer the program more than four years ago, after Laurel Police were not permitted to offer a reward through the Prince George's County Tip Line for information on crimes committed in the city of Laurel.

St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 522 Main St., will hold its sixth annual BBQ Cookoff on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. Entries will be judged in four categories: barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw and dessert. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 12; tickets are available at the door. Proceeds from the BBQ Cookoff benefit Elizabeth House and the holiday food baskets parishioners at St. Philip's provide for more than 40 school families at Christmas. To enter the contest, contact Eileen Collins at eccollin3@msn.com , or call the church at 301-776-5151.

Archbishop Spalding football coach Mike Whittles plans to be on hand Saturday night at Ellie's Place in Millersville for a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer research. The event will kick off at 7 p.m. and will feature door prizes, a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle. Ellie's will also contribute 10 percent of its profits for the night. All proceeds will benefit the Mike Whittles Johns Hopkins Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. Whittles is approaching a year as a survivor of stage four pancreatic cancer and continues to undergo chemotherapy.

Guns are on the mind of much of America in the wake of the deadly theater shooting in Colorado and a foiled copycat crime here in Maryland. They're certainly on the mind of Maryland congressional candidate Faith Loudon who's planning a shooting-themed fundraiser with her "very special guest" National Rifle Association President David Keane. Loudon, a Pasedena mother of three and a Republican who's running in the state's 4th congressional district sent out an invitation over the weekend to what she's calling a "shooting event.

Baltimore native Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband, Will, are expecting Michelle Obama over for lunch -- and some other very fancy guests. The Smiths are opening their home in Calabasas, Calif., on Oct. 25 for an Obama fundraiser that the first lady will attend. Also expected to be there are co-host Salma Hayek and Lady Gaga manager Troy Carter. According to The Hollywood Reporter , it will cost people $2,500 just to get in the door, and $10,000 per couple to have a photo snapped with Michelle Obama.

Models strutted down the runway, showing off the latest fashions in vintage and contemporary clothes. But the event Sunday at the Hippodrome Theatre was no ordinary fashion show. It was a fundraiser featuring girls ages 5 to 12 years old from across the Baltimore region. They modeled the outfits of the popular American Girl dolls, who represent historical and modern characters, such as Kaya, a member of the Nez Perce Indian tribe, and Addy, who escaped slavery during the Civil War. Accompanying the girls onstage were matching dolls.

Baltimore's own Stacy Keibler was front and center Thursday night for her boyfriend George Clooney's record-breaking fundraising fete for President Obama. She may have missed being at Clooney's side for the recent White House Correspondent's dinner. And she may have missed that state dinner that he attended a few months ago. But, ending speculation (at least for the moment) that the two of them are on the rocks, she wasn't going to miss this. Guests paid $40,000 each to be there.