Living and giving

Girls Inc.’s Blast Off

What: “Blast Off: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grade Girl?” put six local celebrities and six fifth-graders to the test in a friendly competition at The Mill.

Benefits: Girls Inc. of Chattanooga.

Highlights: Jed Mescon emceed the local spinoff of TV’s “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?” Guests dined on food from local restaurants including Porter’s Steakhouse, 212 Market, Events With Taste and Table 2. The silent auction included a diamond-and-pearl necklace and earring set from Mavilo Jewelers, pearl necklace from Brody Jewelers, BCBG Max Azria handbag from Yacoubian Tailors, and two nights at the Doubletree Hotel.

Family supports Cleveland State

What: Ralph and Chari Buckner made a $10,000 donation to Cleveland State Community College in memory of his father, Ralph Buckner Sr.

Benefits: Cleveland State Foundation. The donation, raised from proceeds of the Ralph Buckner Classic Golf Tournament, supports a scholarship founded by the Buckner family for a student choosing a career in law enforcement, emergency medical service or fire fighting.

Golfers support March of Dimes

What: 26th annual Capital Toyota Golf Classic held at Council Fire Golf Club. Benefits: Raised $57,000 for March of Dimes. Highlights: Golf legend Chi Chi Rodriguez was at the tournament to meet golfers, and he gave a lesson to one player. Golfers were served breakfast from Panera Bread and lunch from Southern Star restaurant.

Breakfast benefits Soddy band

What: Soddy-Daisy High School Band Boosters and Aretha Frankensteins restaurant partnered for a pancake breakfast at Clear Creek Church of Christ in Hixson. Benefits: Campaign to fund the band’s trip to the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade. Highlights: Since the breakfast was held Halloween morning, Aretha’s parked its hearse on-site for photo-ops, and band members and Booster Club parents came in costume.

Chattanooga State receives gift from Parkridge

What: Chattanooga State Community College and the Chattanooga State Foundation received a $100,000 donation from Parkridge Medical Center supporting the “We Have the Fever!” capital campaign.

Benefits: The donations, which were paid over five years, purchased state-of-the-art educational equipment for the college’s new Health Science Center.