This Friday is the annual Black and White Affair. With all the whirlwind of activities during the last year of high school, Marietta High School senior girls find time to throw a party with a purpose.

The event is at The Brickyard at Marietta Station and benefits AFLAC-Children's Healthcare of Atlanta supporting Childhood Cancer research. The charity was chosen as a group decision of the senior girls of Marietta High School. "We are still children at heart and look forward to giving back to other children like ourselves," senior Emmy Rechsteiner said.

"When searching for a specific organization to donate money to the task became quite difficult, so many people in the world need our help for various reasons. However, we realized that children have not even fully experienced life and what it has to offer; therefore we chose Childhood Cancer to provide a chance for a child to have their life back," Rechsteiner said.

"On behalf of the senior girls of Marietta High School, I would like to say that it has been an honor to help plan this charitable event for our peers and the children in need of our help. We are on our way to reach a profit of $5,000 to donate," Rechsteiner said.

The planning committee includes Rechsteiner, Maggie Henderson, Kristen Guckian, Carolyn Smith, and Genna Heetland, along with other members Caitlyn Bennett, Jesse Carroll, Abby Davis, Danielle Demery, Caroline Graham, Taylor Harris, Christina Hernandez, Marianna Kunzmann, Mary Brooks Lane, Melissa Leming, Ellie Lundeen, Jessica Monohan, Pipa Mosley, Megan McLinden, Amanda Penley, Leah Reilly, Hannah Rozek, Lexie Savic, Leah Underwood, Ha Trinh and Silken Weinberg.

If you would like to make a contribution, visit www.choa.org.

***On Jan. 27, WellStar Foundation honored Dianne Weeks at a retirement party at the Whitlock Inn. More than 75 well-wishers dropped by to celebrate her 16 years with WellStar. Memorabilia from the 16 years were displayed including Weeks' many awards, accomplishments and pictures.

Among those attending were Interim CEO Jim Budinzski and his wife, Deb; Weeks' children, Kelley and Steve Lee and Dusty and Scott Townson; and grandchildren Sydney and Maddie Kate along with Weeks' husband, Gene.

Others attending include WellStar Foundation President Tracey Atwater, David Connell, Holly and Demming Bass, Sue Bentley, Holly Comer, Linda Flournoy, Kim Gresh and George Hatzog, Fitz and Debra Johnson, Carol Kell, Liza Leiter, Kathy and Dan Norris, and Beth Sessoms.

Sally Litchfield is a longtime Marietta resident. She formerly practiced law in Marietta and now stays home to raise her two children. Send Sally news at sallylit@ bellsouth.net. Call Sally at (770) 425-7122.