Six notable Hoosiers took a few shots recently from radio talk- show host Amos Brown and Blackburn Architect president Alpha Blackburn in the name of charity.

Brown and Blackburn, but mostly Brown, served as this year’s Roast Masters for The Indianapolis Chapter of The Links’ “27th Celebrity Barbeque and Grille,” which attracted about 500 to the Downtown Marriott.

Roastees included philanthropist Julie Davis , WellPoint’s Tracy Nolan , Community Hospital Network’s Lauren Dungy Poythress (who is also former Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy ‘s sister), Shirley Weatherly of Habitat for Humanity of Madison County, the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Carol White and pediatrician Dr. Eric Yancy .

Known for his at-times sharp tongue on WTLC’s “Afternoons with Amos,” Brown poked fun at them all, including making jokes about Weatherly’s hometown: Anderson.

“Anderson, Indiana: The town that’s like that favorite aunt or uncle you used to love until they fell on hard times and you stopped inviting them to family functions,” Brown joked.

Yancy took some jabs for moonlighting as a recording artist, when Brown suggested that the singing pediatrician breaks into song in his waiting room when chaos erupts.

In rebuttal, Yancy broke into a medley of tunes, including “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” as he jokingly suggested that the grapevine is where Brown gets the information for his show.

The April 27 roast brought in $40,000 to $50,000 for Habitat for Humanity, educational scholarships and The Links.

Purse auction pays off in battle against cancer

Some people have shoe fetishes.

For them, the online version of this column, indystar.com/cathy , has a celebrity shoe photo gallery that includes a picture of the cool wingtips music icon Elton John wore to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s Ryan White tribute April 28.

Others like purses.

For them, there is the annual Bag Event, which raised about $30,000 April 29 to assist in the fight against ovarian cancer. This year’s charity purse auction involved more than 400 bags, including gently used designer handbags and some one-of-a-kind pieces created by local designers. It attracted 300 people to Carmel’s Renaissance Hotel.

Chicago handbag designer Diego Rocha dropped into the event, first organized five years ago to honor the memory of Susie Hazelett , a longtime community leader in Indianapolis who suffered from ovarian cancer. She died in 2004.

Mary Beth Oakes and Mary Susan Buhner were the event’s co-chairs for the second year in a row.

Garden show reaps bounty for charity

Although the organizers of the annual Orchard in Bloom fundraiser endured some soggy weather last weekend, they estimate that they attracted about 4,000 to their garden show April 30 to May 2 at Holliday Park.

And another 600 to 800 attended the April 29 pre- view party “Before the Bloom,” which included tapas samples from some of the city’s best-loved restaurants, wine and champagne, and a chance for participants to get a first glance at the event’s spring blossoms.

As the featured artist this year, Julie M. Houck ’s work also was displayed in an on- site gallery.

The final figures won’t be in until June, but organizers estimate the event, now in its 21st year, brought in $80,000 to $100,000 for The Orchard School and Indy Parks.

This year’s honorary chairwoman was Lisa Hurst , an event committee member and advocate.