Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Miracle unwrapped at Venetian Ballroom

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

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

"Unwrap a Miracle," a chocolate and champagne fantasy, made its debut Friday evening at the Venetian hotel-casino. A first event to jointly benefit the Clark County Law Foundation's "Trial by Peers" program and the UMC Children's Miracle Network, the occasion drew a capacity crowd, filling over sixty tables with contributors.

Held in the exquisitely appointed Venetian Ballroom with its gilded mirrors, art glass chandeliers and peach damask wall coverings, the evening most appropriately opened with a champagne reception with vintages provided by Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. Delectables were passed by white-gloved servers while guests previewed the auction treasures later sold at the benefit, with Christian Kolberg serving as auctioneer.

Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson was a generous benefactor to the child-oriented fund-raiser, underwriting many of the expenses, including the lush pink rose bouquets created for the dining tables by Jon Tullis, the Venetian's director of floral services.

Supporters included Miriam and Rokh Afshai of Cartier, Roger and Katherine Wirth, Kathleen Delaney, Andrea Boggs, Betty Ann Jones, Jim Jimmerson, Dr. John and Marie Ellerton and Heidi LaBrie. Ken Ladd, sporting a bit of high color after a day on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the Laughlin River Run, attended with his wife Dee and was joined at the silent auction by Jeff Guinn and committee members Cindy Williams, Lynne Rosencrantz and D'Vore Ober.

Nancy Allf, past president of the Clark County Bar Association and current president of the Clark County Bar Foundation, attended with her husband Dave Thomas as well as friends Debra and Mitch Cohen, Barbara Robinson, Matt Waymire and her parents Juanita and Greg Mendoza. Her sister Linda Taber, and brother-in-law Rob Taber were accompanied by their year-old daughter Rachel, who was bedazzled by the chocolate creations made for the occasion by the Venetian's chefs and other supportive executive chefs from area resorts.

Entering committee members, among them the very dedicated Carolyn Sparks, who worked tireless on this event, were given long-stemmed roses to carry with them during the evening. Sparks, who attended with her children Katherine, Robert and Tricia, were seen with longtime friends Nancy and J.K. Houssels. Eric Houssels, their son, joined them, accompanied by his godmother Colette Saltz and her husband Sidney.

Dinner, truly a gourmet repast, included a brief program explaining the efforts of the UMC Children's Miracle Network to meet the health care needs of Southern Nevada children. Spotlighted as well was "Trial by Peers," recognized by the American Bar Association as one of the finest juvenile diversion programs, encompassing many local students and utilizing over 200 attorney volunteers.

Andre-Philippe Gagnon of C2K at the Venetian, the French Canadian singer-impressionist personally managed by Celine Dion's husband, made a dazzling appearance. His incredible talents entertained an enraptured audience with David Ober, Joe Lasada, Allen Kaercher, Paul Mueller, Jeanne Hood, Chris Hipwell, and former Gov. Robert List, just a few of the applauding crowd.

Soiree III

"Soiree III," the last of the Spring 2000 series of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, was held at the Eagle Hills home of Roger Thomas in Summerlin. Guests enjoyed the contemporary architecture of the Thomas home which embraces much of his extensive art collection including an original portrait by Andy Warhol.

Henry Dunay, a world-renowned jeweler whose creations have been worn by Hillary Clinton, the late Princess Diana of Wales and Elizabeth Taylor, came from New York as special guest of Terri Monsour and Neiman Marcus of Las Vegas, corporate sponsors of the soiree event. Dunay's jewels and hand-crafted gold pieces are each created in the "Sabi" technique, as he explained to guests Diane and Pat Clary, Vaughn Whited, Jerry and Jeanne Klein, Adam Throgmorton, Adrian and Dan Polsenberg, Bill Marion and Dr. Adele Koot.

Present as well was Michael Katz representing Mikimoto Pearls (America), part of the corporate sponsorship group responsible for this inaugural season of the Philharmonic.

Selected with an eye to romance, the program was presented at twilight on the patio, with the magic of fine wine and beautiful music ever present on this well-planned occasion. Opera favorites were performed by UNLV's first couple, Rebecca and Paul Kreider. Duets from "Don Giovanni" and "The Barber of Seville" were followed by Gershwin's immortal "Bess, You Is My Woman." Arias by Mozart and Verdi were also performed.

Mingling in the balmy evening with host Roger Thomas were Helene and Ken Walker, Janice Tanno and Paul and Sue Lowden as well as past soiree hosts Wendy and Richard Plaster with dear friends Donny and Madeleine Andress and Roger's brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Nancy Thomas. Supporters also included Dr. Stephanie Youngblood, Bob Parker with Jo Mazzoli, Robert Greenberg, Nancy Nichols and Helga Zachbauer who's just returned from a lengthy vacation in Austria.

Brief remarks by conductor Hal Weller reminded everyone of the orchestra's season finale, slated for Saturday at Ham Hall. The program will include the full Philharmonic with the UNLV University Chorus, the UNLV Chamber Chorale and the UNLV University Singers in a performance of Carl Orfrs Carmina Burana and Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Tickets are available through the Ham Hall Box Office on the UNLV campus or by calling 895-2787.

EWI event

Our city plays host to many significant conferences, often brought to our resorts at the instigation of local organizations and individuals. Such was the case with the Western Regional Conference of Executive Women International, hosted by EWI's Las Vegas Chapter with leadership by Alma Fulford (Sierra Health Services), who served as conference chair and Michele Povelko (Salomon Smith Barney Inc.), Las Vegas chapter president. Held at Treasure Island hotel-casino, the three-day event drew 200 women executives from as far away as Honolulu and Calgary. Speakers included Heidi G. Miller (CFO of Citigroup) as well as Rod Pires (FBI Joy Perfer-Cohen Smith Barney), Marie McGee (Asset One) and Thomas Gibbens Salomon Smith Barney).

Mayor Oscar Goodman, who actually blushed during a glowing introduction by Alma Fulford, enlivened the Saturday morning program with his speech on Las Vegas.

He encouraged all of us to look beyond the neon to the incredible, robustly growing city we call home. In the audience were locals including past chapter president Kitty Rodman (Sierra Construction), as well as Ruth Weis (Manpower), Paula Lawson (Construction Notebook News), Bea Waite (sustaining member) and Angela Hubbard (Allen Photography), with Marge Geelan, Peggy Brewer (Tee Shirts, Ltd.), Paula Anderson (M.J. Christensen Jewelers), Gina Miller (Fitzgibbons and Anderson and Miriam Gubler representing Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The Las Vegas chapter of Executive Women International was charter in 1950 and has an enviable philanthropic record. EWI's local efforts include yearly scholarship awards to UNLV students who are re-entering college, often facing many obstacles. At the holidays these busy executives assist with Opportunity Village's Magical Forest and throughout the year their members work to collect toiletries, videos and other small remembrances for those who reside at The Margaret Rose Home for Seniors. Most recently, at their third yearly effort for "Make A Difference Day," they collected more than 600 books for donation to four senior residences. Gov. Guinn designated Saturday, April 29, as Executive Women International Day in the State of Nevada.

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