Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Ronald McDonald House benefit draws state dignitaries

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 8:50 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoytsimmons@prodigy.net.

A new direction in charitable gatherings, Saturday's Magical Moments '99 was hugely successful. Using the unique, multilevel setting of Studio 54 at MGM Grand hotel-casino, the late afternoon-into-evening benefit drew more than 400 guests, among them Nevada notables former Gov. Bob Miller with daughter Meghan, comedians Kenny Kerr, Sonny King, Pete Barbuti and Marty Allen, UNLV football coach John Robinson, the fabled DeCastro Sisters and Claude Trenier.

Designed to please, this new fund-raiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Las Vegas really dazzled with its well-orchestrated program directed and produced by Blair Farrington. Farrington Productions, innovators who have created costumes as well as lavish productions both for resorts and corporate special needs, wove together fashions from Lillie Rubin, Hugo Boss and Brad Lockett, complimented by splendid vocal entertainment from Clint Holmes, Paige O'Hara with Michael Piontek and Paula Elia.

Included as well were formal introductions of Nevada's former first lady Sandy Miller, joined on stage by Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Linda Robinson, Paula Hornbuckle, Madeleine Weekley, Brenda Holmes and Lynn Weidner.

Present at the benefit was Nancy Gasho, charter member and first-year president of our local Ronald McDonald House, accompanied by friends Alma Vining, Julie Martin, Priscilla Scalley and Emily Aguero. Nearby was longtime board member Dr. Kathy Mahon, her husband, Tom, and their friend, Claire Kurlinski, joined by board members Rose McKinney James and Lee Barrett, and past member Betty Conn, who assisted with the benefit event. Others glimpsed in the audience included Debbie Gold Krause with Toni Brown, volunteer Chuck Wood, Monty Rock III with his New York producer, Lucille Thaler, Rivka Parrish, Eddie Rivas of the MGM, Dennise Haskins, Blackie Hunt, Bruce Malone and Dinah Groce, Mike Lansford and Jack Haley of the NBA.

Adding a special sparkle to the action was the live auction of boxing gloves donated by Muhammed Ali, which were purchased and then donated back for further sale by real estate agent Cathy Bittinger. A longtime supporter, Bittinger chaired the early fund-raisers at Catch A Rising Star, which provided seed money for organizing the Ronald McDonald House nearly 10 years ago.

Bittinger and attending guests were thanked by organizational President Jacqueline Taylor, who explained that the Ronald McDonald House provides temporary lodging for out-of-town families while their seriously ill children receive treatment at nearby hospitals and outpatient clinics.

The House provides an environment of emotional support for parents, siblings and their ill children through a loving, caring, stable place they can call home in time of crisis. Our local Ronald McDonald House is at 2323 Potosi St., near West Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.

Advocates honored

Accomplished and committed singer-actress Toni Tennille and Nevada state Sen. Dina Titus are most worthy of the awards recognizing their contributions to the arts in Nevada at the first Arts Advocacy Gala planned for Sept. 17 at The Resort at Summerlin.

Presented by the Nevada Arts Advocates, the evening will be hosted by entertainer Bob Anderson and include a performance by recording star/actress Brenda Epperson Doumani, harpists and a silent auction featuring original works from Nevada's finest artists.

Tennille will be honored for her distinguished service as Nevada's Ambassador for the Arts and her ongoing work as a patron and activist for the arts in Nevada. She resides in Lake Tahoe. Sen. Titus is the founder of the Legislative Arts Caucus and is a longtime supporter of the arts and humanities.

Nevada Arts Advocates is a nonprofit, statewide organization dedicated to advancing cultural arts in our state through education and advocacy. Proceeds from this gala will fund scholarships for graduating high school seniors who wish to further their studies in the arts. For reservations and further details please call 362-8885.

On the move

In the spotlight these days are Las Vegans of note including Nevada's own Rep. Shelley Berkley. Recent ceremonies held in Washington, D.C., bestowed "Every Action Counts" awards to Berkley and her fellow Jewish women of Congress. The award ceremony was part of a two-hour program celebrating the achievements of Jewish women in America from colonial times, and was part of a four-day national convention of Hadassah.

Also on the move these days and facing the challenges of her new position is Laura Fritz, vice president of development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas Foundation. Fritz previously coordinated the wide-ranging Foundation projects and special events for the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Best wishes as well to the most personable Steve Wyrick, world class magician, who celebrated his second anniversary in the showroom of the Lady Luck hotel-casino in August. The 29-year-old master illusionist performs the largest on-stage illusion in Las Vegas when he makes a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 58 appear.

Over the past year Wyrick has performed for President Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House and appeared on the programs "Prime Time Country" and "Hard Copy." His anniversary program drew a full audience of his fondest fans, as well as family and friends. A post-performance dinner hosted by the Lady Luck included bountiful selections from the hotel's fine chefs in the Burgundy Room and Marco Polo restaurant.

And lastly, in an event that took on the splendor of any Hollywood awards show, Sunset Station hotel-casino recently named Max David Jr. and Richard Guastalli as its "team members" of the year. Both men were awarded a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, an additional week of paid vacation and VIP parking. David, internal maintenance, and Guastalli, a bellman, have been with the property since 1997.

Museum exhibit

An event not to be missed, the Las Vegas Art Museum will host a Russian-theme gala event to celebrate the opening of the Marc Chagall exhibition. Co-chaired by museum members Sue Lowden and Gloria Fine, the spectacular evening will be held at the Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., on Sept. 30.

Russian-born Chagall is one of the most original 20th century artists and this featured collection will be the first-ever museum showing of this collection anywhere in the world. More than 50 original paintings will be exhibited at the gala, for which tickets are priced at $175 per person. To make reservations, please contact the Las Vegas Art Museum at 360-8000. The Marc Chagall exhibit will be open to the public from Oct. l to Nov. 14. A special admission fee of $5 will be charged to the general public with group tours and docent presentations available by prearrangement.

Picnic with purpose

As our community's population grows so does the number of Southern Nevada children diagnosed with cancer. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and will kick off on Saturday with the Candlelighters Millennium Cancer Awareness Picnic.

Food, games and entertainment are planned for this family event, which will run from noon-3 p.m. at Wayne Bunker Memorial Park, at the corner of Tenaya and Alexander. An occasion to celebrate the lives of childhood cancer survivors, as well as those who survive in our hearts and minds, the picnic is certain to be a memorable occasion. Included in the activities will be a candlelighting ceremony for all of those who have been touched by childhood cancer. Please contact the Candlelighter office at 737-1919 for further details.