Regarding last Thursday’s fundraiser for the United Way of Chester County at the Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, the evening and venue couldn’t have been any better for establishing these few interesting facts, some more noteworthy than others, about our region:

• Who needs Ruth’s Chris when you barely need a knife to cut the filet mignon at the Penn Oaks Golf Club? Managing Director Steve DiMarco and his crew, who donated their services, are second to none when it comes to offering an unforgettable dining experience.
• The cocktail hour – sponsored by West Chester law firm Lamb McErlane, one of the most sophisticated, diverse, and respected boutique practices in the suburban Delaware Valley – proved that Victory beer is undoubtedly the beverage of choice for Chester County’s upper crust.
• If you possess tickets for next season’s college football game between Pitt and Penn State at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 9, you might be sitting on a gold mine. Despite a week’s vacation in Florida also being auctioned off, these tickets were the Holy Grail. They were the subject of intense bidding that, at first, appeared would yield a modest, well-intentioned donation to charity, but quickly morphed into a contest in which the bounty drastically increased with each blink of an eye.
• Maryellen Bowers, of Cakes and Candies by Maryellen, is West Chester’s queen of dessert for a reason. She provided mousse-stuffed chocolate pianos – appropriate given the entertainment for the evening – that had guests pulling out their cell phones en masse to snap a few pictures. It’s no accident that her business is perennially selected as Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs.
• Whether you’re a business owner with just a molehill of cash in reserve or a corporate executive with a mountain of green, you’d be wise to enlist the advisory services of Exton’s Brumbaugh Wealth Management. Kim Brumbaugh’s firm has a history of philanthropy, and she knows how to make your money work for you as well as we all know how her generosity helps the community.
• And most importantly, Chester County takes care of its own. The successful people of our area, and there are legions, are not shy about spreading their wealth for a noble cause. And by helping just one person less fortunate, they are helping to pick up the community as a whole.

Speaking of philanthropy, Citadel Federal Credit Union was the presenting sponsor, while CCRES and CertainTeed were, like Brumbaugh Wealth Management, lead sponsors. CTDI, meanwhile, sponsored the dinner.

With the help of Kimberley and Tamara Pinegar, the stars of The Twins Dueling Pianos Show in Las Vegas, guests were treated to a musical trip down memory lane, as the sisters played hits from Billy Joel to Bon Jovi. Their talent, if not sibling rivalry, entertained everyone in attendance, all for the benefit of the United Way of Chester County Financial Stability Center.

Located at 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, in Exton, the Financial Stability Center helps people meet their basic, day-to-day needs, plan and save for the future, and create a path to financial strength and independence. Service navigators and coaches help them clarify their financial goals, provide support, and connect them to a set of services to achieve their goals.

And this one-stop resource to achieving financial independence is made possible through the kindness that is at the heart of Chester County.