Who says jazz isn't popular? The "Bridges From the Heart" jazz concert was a sellout.
Some 700 jazz enthusiasts jammed into the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall lobby, as some local jazz musicians did some jammin' themselves in one corner of the room. Folks sipped wine and browsed a buffet, awaiting the night's big event -- a concert by acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis; his father, pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr.; and several other musicians and artists. The evening celebrated the 10th anniversary of Learning Independence Through Computers.
Among the throng: Ellis Marsalis III and Paul Wolman, event co-chairs; Ed Goldstein, event committee member; Bob Roswell, LINC board president; Jim Hardesty, Winnie K. Levinson, Andy Levy, Bill Rienhoff IV and Marian S. Vessels, LINC board members; Steve Ziger, LINC immediate past board president; Mary Salkever, LINC executive director; Susan Pompa, LINC associate director; Earnest Hines, American Skyline Insurance CEO / president; Bill Jews, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CEO / president; Carmen V. Russo, Baltimore Schools CEO; Stephanie Dunn-Hunt, Dunn & Associates Public Relations CEO / president; Steve Rosen, Mark Downs Office Furniture president; Pat Mullaney, Verizon regulatory manager; Patrick O'Guinn Sr., O'Guinn & McNeal law firm partner; Dr. Jack Gordon, Baltimore orthopedic surgeon; Beverly Jones, Chesapeake Partners office administrator; Mary Snead, Grace and St. Peter School admissions director; Ray Skinner, Maryland secretary of housing and community development; James Collins, Fertile Ground bandleader; Dwayne Goldsmith, Ntegrity CEO; and Renee Gordon, Small Business Administration attorney.
The event raised about $120,000 for LINC programs and services helping people with disabilities learn how to use computer technology.