Fund-raiser helps orphaned kids

Six decades ago, SOS Children’s Villages was founded to provide families and homes for orphaned and abandoned children. Today, more than 73,000 children have homes in more than 473 villages in 132 countries thanks to the organization’s work. The Atlanta volunteer committee for SOS Children’s Villages held a recent fund-raiser at Ibiza, bringing in $7,500. Victor M’Baba from Africa’s Children’s Fund and Alla Bereshkova from the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce were among the guests. The crowd included former Atlanta Brave and Falcon Brian Jordan and Irene Bailey, Mishay Handy, N’dine Drame, Gary and Kimberly Rio, Herman Howard, Jonathan Pine, Moses Kabie, Mfon Ufot, Alex Hunte and Kym Kennedy. Spoken word artist Sheldon Bailey performed as guests enjoyed tapas provided by Ibiza. Rafih and Rita Benjelloun are the restaurant’s owners. For information about SOS, contact Mark Neidig at 202-470-5171 or mneidig@sos-usa.org.

Unresolved: Your resolutions

Atlanta’s social scenesters are a most resolute bunch. We didn’t have room for everyone’s good intentions in the Jan. 1 column, so let the virtuous vows continue.

“Increase the number of business trips to France to meet artists and acquire new art; create, nourish and love a little kitchen garden just off the back door, filled to the brim with rosemary, lavender, thyme, oregano, mint and even some catnip for Ike, our quirky but sweet house cat.” —- Meg Harrington, co-owner of Huff Harrington Fine Art

“During the past few months, I’ve taken up the highly addictive, but extremely rewarding project of tracing my family tree. This fascinating hobby has not only given me a better sense of who I am but, has also led to my reconnecting with some Conecuh County, Ala. relatives that I hadn’t seen in well over two decades. My resolution is to place and keep family at the tippy-top of my priorities. Whether it’s my family or my partner Mike Selk’s, these are the people that deserve a first helping anytime I start handing out servings of my time. —- John Lemley, WABE host of “All Things Considered” and the AJC’s pick as best drive-time DJ in this year’s Best of the Big A list.

“Record the story of my grandparents’ lives in their own words and voices. My grandfather flew in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Their great-grandchildren need to know the journey of these wonderful people and their generation.” —- Hope Branicki, community volunteer and mother of two.

“Continue my progress toward being non-judgmental, because you never, ever know what created someone and their viewpoint.” —- Cathy Cooper, an intellectual property marketing manager who describes herself as a “recovering lawyer.”

“I want to figure out what my lane is and stay in it.” —-Evelyn Mims of WXIA-TV.

“Spend more time entertaining my family and friends at my home. Over the holiday season I have hosted a few pizza parties. After rolling out paper thin crust, my guests chose their own toppings and everyone makes their own pizza.” —-Rosina Seydel of Smithson Seydel Real Estate, which focuses on high-end properties like the “Pink Palace,” listed at $10 million.

“Give everyone in Atlanta a slice of world-class pizza.” —- Jeffrey Varasano, pie guy. Speaking of home pizza parties, his caught the attention of the AJC and New York Times. His Buckhead restaurant opens soon.

“Take Bentley, my recent Humane Society rescue dog, on a good walk every day; remember to take my reusable grocery bags to the store with me every time; write good old-fashioned thank you notes on pretty stationery and send them promptly; snowboard more often.” —- Cinda Boomershine, president and founder of cinda b.

“With three children my life seems to be so hectic and stressful. I want to really to let everyone know how much they mean to me. Life is so short.” —-Angela Karatassos, who volunteers with youths in the West End community through the Kim King Foundation, named after her late father

“To find daily spiritual purpose as a mother, wife, friend and woman … and to complete my dissertation and earn my Ph.D. by my twins’ first birthdays. —- Karin Smithson, psychotherapist, Georgia State University doctoral candidate, and new mom

butterfly@ajc.com