Wednesday, April 22, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.
AN EVENING planned with exquisite detail, the annual UNLV Foundation Dinner drew an elite crowd of Southern Nevada notables. Held at The Mirage, the event was by invitation only to members of the UNLV Foundation annual giving groups that contributed $1,000 or more in support of the university's academic programs. Many are members of the President's Inner Circle for individual contributors of $5,000 or more, as well as President's Associates at the $1,000 level. Barbara Bush, former first lady of our nation, was keynote speaker and was credited with drawing a record audience of more than 750 attendees for the elegant affair.
Flowing into The Mirage Ballroom under the careful scrutiny of Secret Service agents were guests Bob Bigelow, Leona Gennis, Rich Newman, Richard Tam, University Regent Mark Alden with Doug Seastrand, Wing and Lilly Fong, Maria and Ted Quirk, Francine Pulliam and Terry Graves; as well as Cleo and Harley Harmon, Shelley Lowe, Sandra Munley and Rebel football coach Jeff Horton. Irwin and Susan Molasky, who have a new junior high school named in their honor, attended with son Steven and Lisa Livingstone, and were seen discussing the under-construction campus with Helen Sax, a faculty member.
Nearby, state Sen. Bob Coffin and Mary Hausch were found in the crowd with Steve and Linda Casey, as well as Elena and David Madsen, Jack and M.J. Harvey, Frank and Charlene Scott and many of the Becker family, among them Sue and Barry Becker and Ernie Becker Sr.
Mrs. Bush's arrival at the reception created a flurry of excitement, as many wanted to meet this lovely woman. Her Las Vegas appearance, which included a reading session with youngsters at nearby Paradise Elementary School, was sponsored by Bruce and Sherry Layne, Kitty Rodman, Steve and Elaine Wynn and Claudine Williams. Greeting her in the crowd were Mel Wolzinger, Chuck and Donna Ruthe, Scott MacTaggart, Dr. John Ellerton, Jerry and Yvonne Gordon and Jeanne Hood, as well as Sharon and Jay Brown, Dr. Harold and Judith Boyer and Judge Bill Jansen with Gerald Schaffer.
Donald Snyder, UNLV Foundation chairman, speaking on behalf of his fellow officers Michael Maffie, Berlyn Miller and Lucy Klinkhammer, welcomed the high-spirited crowd as they settled in to enjoy the gourmet dinner and foundation progam. Listening attentively from near the stage were supporters Jean Nidetch, Isabel Pfeiffer and Northern Nevada University Regent Howard Rosenberg, seated with Marjorie Barrick, Rose Dominguez, Dr. Tom Wright and Dr. Norval and Barbie Pohl.
In keeping with tradition for this annual dinner, new members of the UNLV Palladium Society of million-dollar donors were honored with awards jointly presented by Donald Snyder and UNLV president Carol Harter. Recognized for their generosity were Alliance Gaming Corp., Jimma Lee and Donna Beam and Kitty Rodman. Alliance Gaming, a gaming entertainment company that operates several businesses, is the nation's largest route operator of gaming machines through its United Gaming and VSI subsidiaries. Alliance recently fulfilled a $1 million pledge to support basketball scholarships at UNLV.
Jimma Lee and Donna Beam are members of a generous Southern Nevada Family, which helped fund major building projects on the UNLV campus. Most recently, their contributions to the Thomas and Jimma Beam Music Center will make possible a family dream to build a music facility with rehearsal space and public recital halls on the UNLV campus.
Kitty Rodman, secretary-treasurer of Sierra Construction Corp., has been a member of the UNLV Foundation board of trustees for more than a decade and chairs the board's Special Projects Committtee. Her most recent contribution to UNLV will establish the new Physical Therapy Program and provide support for accreditation and operating expenses, equipment and instruction materials, as well as the creation of a special library and scholarship endowments. Her past gifts have included contributions for both academic and athletic programs and were previously recognized by naming a UNLV campus residence hall in her honor.
Going to the Games
The Greater Las Vegas Inner City Games were given a royal boost in most generous fashion by renowned restaurateur Wolfgang Puck and his architectural designer wife and partner Barbara Lazaroff. In hosting an exclusive benefit dinner for the Inner City Games at Chinois in the Forum Shops at Caesars, the dynamic couple helped focus attention on this most worthy children's sporting and educational program and raised more than $45,000.
Working with the same precepts as founder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said, "All kids are a lifetime investment," Puck and Lazaroff created this benefit evening, which included both community supporters and representative children who will participate in the '98 Inner City Games during the nine months of free activities. As intended, these activities have as their goal a positive alternative to gangs, drugs and violence and form a bond with efforts by local schools, which assisted with enrollment.
Arriving guests were welcomed to the Chinois event by a host of servers offering lavish selections of sushi and other divine delectables as well as saki, champagne and other beverages. In the crowd of business and community leaders was the ever-handsome Ralph Lamb, as well as Judge Jack and Lulu Lehman, Pat and Bob Campbell, Phil Hernandez and Jay and Nichole Casey.
Nearby, enjoying the beauty of the exquisitely designed restaurant were Janet and Andrew Blumen, Kay and Allen Browne, Charlie Cavagnaro, Judge Nancy Oesterle and J.K. and Nancy Houssels. "Baywatch" producer Michele Rogers Berk, who recently completed filming a motion picture in the Philippines, spoke with Ira David Sternberg concerning plans for a Las Vegas film festival next spring. With husband and co-producer Michael Berk, Michele is also in pre-production mode for a Las Vegas-based drama series also produced by her Navada company, Lotus Pictures.
Taking in the excitement of the event were Inner City Games student participants, including Sasha Nikolai of Valley High School, who spoke of his selection as a youth ambassador with Greater Las Vegas Inner City Games co-founders Elain Wynn and County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates. Earlier in the day, these students, who were selected from a vat field of applicants on the basis of essays, auditions and applications, were also given private cooking and art lessons with Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff, with all the staff and resources of Chinois joining in the merriment.
Dinner for the Inner City Games supporters was served on the upper level of the spacious eatery, which looks out over the newest section of the Forum Shops. Glimpsed on the curving stairwell as they ascended to dinner were Steven and Chantal Cloobeck, Roger Thomas, Ann Lynch, Jim Jimmerson, Rex and Sandy Windom, Terri Smith and Eddie Loya. Southern Nevada Wine and Spirits provided the wines to accompany the delightful meal, most creatively prepared by Wolfgang and his staff.
Former Cimarron-Memorial High School principal Mike Edwards, now serving as executive director of the Inner City Games, was assisted by Joyce Walker, deputy director, as he explained the 1998 games will include more than 10,000 local students. Their participation will provide a wide range of sports challenges, as well as hands-on learning experiences as writers, artists and junior broadcasters. This is the third year of operation for the Greater Las Vegas Inner City Games.
Bridal shower
Bride-to-be Kellie Creekmore was recently honored with a bridal shower and luncheon hosted by longtime friend Patricia Nixon. Kellie, an English teacher at Cimarron-Memorial High School, looked radiant as she greeted guests at the entrance of Spago in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Working closely with the staff at Spago, Mrs. Nixon was pleased to find the creative minds of both David Robins and Wolfgang Puck in tune with her wishes for a most pleasant luncheon. Their selected menu began with a collection of Spago's trademark appetizer pizzas, followed by another Spago favorite, the Caesar salad, and last, the too-wonderful-to-miss pastries and assorted desserts.
Friends, many of them "almost family," included Suzie Banto, Nyla Marchant, Susan Barraza, Yvonne Gordon, Janet Manuel and Renee Leonard. Also attending were Tashina and Nanette Guild, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Gretchen King, Brenda Walker, Sharon Fransen, Maribeth Highlander, Gayle Good Keppler, Robert Rhode and Glenna Barnes. Bringing her own best wishes and those of hubby Dr. Fred Kirshner, was Alice Kirshner, mother of the groom. Kellie and her fiance, Dave Guild, have planned a summer wedding.
archive
