Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Women’s center supporters feted at luncheon

Elizabeth Foyt

Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997 | 11:37 a.m.

WITH PHILANTHROPIC leadership by benefactor Jean Nidetch and significant community support by both men and women, the Jean Nidetch Women's Center at UNLV has become a hub of campus life.

Re-entry programs and a supportive network help students transition to college life while offering a lifeline of direct assistance with scholarships, child care or social services referrals. Other offerings at the Women's Center include job fairs, a lending library, workshops on the financial aid process and voter registration, as well as seminars on issues of concern to students and the community alike.

Recently, director Conee Spano coordinated the annual Founders and Member Appreciation Luncheon for supporters of the Jean Nidetch Women's Center. Held in UNLV's Richard Tam Alumni Center, the occasion was well-attended with Angie Wallin and daughters Julie Gilday-Shaffer and Kara Tucker, seen with University Regent Mark Alden, joined by Assemblyman Dario Herrera.

Mary Ruth Carleton, founding director of the Women's Center, who now heads the development office at San Diego State University, came to the luncheon as the guest of Weight Watcher's founder Jean Nidetch, for whom the center is named. Greeting the blonde twosome were longtime friends Mary Hausch with her husband, State Sen. Bob Coffin, as well as Kitty Rodman, M.J. Harvey and Carolyn Stephens.

UNLV President Carol Harter provided welcoming comments while University Regent Shelley Berkley was keynote speaker for the luncheon event. Listening attentively were guests Caroline Rohrer, Alice Mauricio, University Regent Thalia Dondero, Jerry Appenzeller, Rebecca Feltz, Paula Francis, Sandra Munley, Kathleen England and Child Have director Peggy Leavitt. Clark County Recorder Judy Vandever, who joined us at our table, told us over lunch of her department's ongoing efforts to train the public in how to access county property records at no cost.

The Women's Center will present its fourth annual Community Job Fair on Sept. 27. For information on how to participate as a job seeker or potential employer, or other programs offered through the center, call 895-4475.

Get your tix

Going, going, gone ... or soon to be: Tickets for the Sept. 10 fashion luncheon to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of Southern Nevada are selling quickly. With Ivana Trump as special guest and patron, this elegant affair promises to be a most gracious event. Macy's will provide the fashions while a gourmet luncheon will be enjoyed in Bally's 26th-floor Skyview Room. In addition, an exclusive array of raffle treasures and silent-auction offerings will be available to guests at the $55-per-ticket event. Call the Alzheimer's Association at 248-2770 for reservations and further details.

Lighthouse bash

Lighthouse Compassionate Care serves our community by assisting individuals afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Headquartered at 1100 E. Sahara, the agency operates a food pantry and helps clients by providing transitional and affordable housing as needed. In addition, the agency trains volunteer teams to provide nonmedical respite care to lighten the tasks shouldered by primary caregivers of AIDS patients.

Recently, a spectacular party to benefit Lighthouse was held at Baro Canyon Estates, a cliffside enclave of custom building lots on Sunrise Mountain. Tom Ramirez of RAZ Enterprises, who designed the first incredible home and built it with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Whitaker, played genial host to the 400 attending guests at this open house. Mimi McGee, agent for Liberty Realty, who first envisioned and then brought to life the charitable event, was on hand to explain the unique features of the 5,200-square-foot home, which has stunning vistas from nearly every room and boasts the highest elevation of any home in Clark County.

Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada sponsored the party, where Cindi Doumani and film-maker sun Fred Doumani Jr., Ron and Kathy Slaughter, Olgita DeCastro, George Von Tobel and Dr. Kitty Crooks were among early arrivals who spread out to enjoy the merriment on all three floors or stepped out to the decks adjacent to the bedrooms and upstairs sitting room.

On the patio, which offers a grotto-style waterfall and slide as part of the free-form pool, Ralph and Sara Denton, joined by Alice Turner, shared the views with Dr. Beverly and Mik Pinjuv, Gary Kirkley and Charlotte Parker. Staying outside as darkness fell and turned the valley below into velvet and diamonds were Larry Luna, Pat and Norma Pinto with son Jack Kelly and Dale Myers.

Inside the home's sprawling entertainment and family areas, large tables were given over to the bountiful buffet created by Carol Kirtley of Kirtley, Breen and Associates Catering, J.B. Browne Catering, Barbara Byrd and Murray Peterson of the Gourmet Cafe. Wines were poured with a generous hand by account executives of Southern Wine and Spirits. Providing necessary assistance as well were Doc Wiener of Mission Linen and the young Culinary Union trainees, as well as supporters Commissioner Lorraine and Blackie Hunt and Bonnie Bryan.

Nearby, the silent auction chaired by Sandra Long and Eileen Schanda drew the interest of Gayle Wiener, Jack Schaefer, Rose Marie McMorris, Blair Lunds, Dernell Reid and Ann and Seymour Kaplan, joined by co-chairs Gale Colton and Colleen Schroeder. Eve and Ted Quillin, who later won an angelic doll created by Laurel Lamoureaux, were also among the bidders. Showing their generous hearts by performing for the fund-raiser were longtime Las Vegas favorites Phil and Treasure Ford with their special songs and music, as well as tap-dance sensation Jerry Kurland.

Keeping the party lively until nearly midnight was Nancy Lamb, who joined Lighthouse Compassionate Care four months ago as resource and development director in charge of special events. Working behind the scenes to make this now-annual event a success were committee members, including Kerin Rodgers, Dawnelle Gallo, Chopin Kiang, Vanessa Flangas and her mother Wanda, Bob Kruggel, Stella Bramlett, Melodee Lamb and a host of others.