Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Junior League helps hundreds for holidays

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003 | 12:26 p.m.

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

More than 300 children got a bountiful Christmas, thanks to Junior League of Las Vegas members and supporters.

Selected by school personnel at five high-needs schools, the children became part of Junior League's annual Adopt-A-Bear Project, receiving a complete new set of clothing, shoes and warm coats plus books and a toy.

As guests arrived at Jeanne Greenawalt's home for the annual Christmas Tea on Dec. 13, they brought with them the gifts they had purchased for each selected child.

Mary Blake and Linda Givens shared the chairmanship of this service project, working with Wende Bell, Joanne Goldberg, Jan Greene, Linda Wohletz, Carole Terry, Lois Zellers, Vicki Cichon and Linda Bixler-Prujan to receive the bagged donations in the winter sunshine.

Equally involved were fellow committee members Nancy Corrigan, Daphne Campbell, Denise Lemoine, Bonnie Lawyer, Debbie Levy, Sally McKinney and Wendy Kalb, who has recruited an entire circle of friends for this worthy endeavor.

Also devoting many hours by meeting and measuring the children and later distributing the bulging gift parcels at the schools were Kay Fraim, Marilyn Glovinsky, Snydee Smith, Betsy Rhodes, Bonnie Bryan and Jan Titus.

Attending the Christmas Tea at Greenawalt's Spanish Trail home were Nancy Gasho, Jane Boudreau, Sue Brooks, Nancy Leslie, Louise Helton, Judy Beal, Denyce Tuller, Helen Sax and Melinda McGeorge Johnson.

Hosted by the Junior League's sustaining members, the receiving line was composed of Mitzi Hiegel (sustainer president), Dr. Patti Craddock (tea chairwoman), Jeanne Greenawalt (hostess) and Kristina Swallow (Junior League president).

As is traditional, past presidents served at the tea and punch tables with Deni Conrad, Kristine Amerine, LuAnn Kutch, Donna Levy, Thalia Dondero, Debbie Herman, Brenda Dizon and Diana Wilson among those pouring.

Heather Stine, a newlywed attending for the first time with mother-in-law Deni Conrad, was seen with Lisa Windom of the Junior League cookbook marketing team and her mother, Sandy Windom, a member of the tea committee. Enjoying the pleasant gathering and performances by the Nevada Opera Theatre Chorus were Jan Nitz, Beth Volin and Sandy Litton with daughter Liz Gibson.

Mesquite bash

Dec. 19 proved to be an ideal day for Mesquite Club's annual holiday luncheon.

With 180 members and guests attending, the festivities in the Tuscany Hotel's ballroom began with a lively social hour.

President Maureen Schnitzer, a 30-year member of the civic-social organization, was seen with former presidents Beverly Sawinsky, Paula Mendenhall, Ruth Vogliotti, Phyllis Hendrickson, Alice Eubank, Golda Tobler, Lois Freeman and Sara Southard. Doris Wartman welcomed friends Pat Hines, Mimi Rodin, Joan Purcell and Barbara Lamanola to seats at her table, where festive bags of her homemade candies were enviable table favors.

In the crowd discussing the community and fine arts projects of the 85-year-old club were Bernice Fischer, Jean Spiller with Betty Middleton, Juanita Mendoza, Colleen Haycock, Marion Kohler, Doris Balducci, Laura Lippold, Rita Collins and Flo Mlynarczyk, as well as Joan Smallwood, Betty Bunch, Beth Stewart, Billie Kenney, Kay Gray and Peggy Broxterman.

Mesquite Club, part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, has played an important part in Las Vegas' history, having been instrumental in founding the first library, developing parks, helping pass child protective legislation and hosting fine arts events.

Remembering Fox

Remembered through the years for his valiant fight against cancer, the late Terry Fox was again honored by the Four Seasons with a fund-raiser to benefit the UNLV Cancer Research Institute.

Fox, who was employed in Canada by Four Seasons, is the rallying point for cancer fund-raisers at each of the Four Seasons resorts around the globe, with proceeds for cancer research given to local or regional institutions.

In Las Vegas, in a departure from previous years' gala dinners, the fund-raiser on Dec. 11 was a Teddy Bear Tea Party in the resort's Palm Room. Champagne and splendid silent auction packages from Four Seasons properties around the nation and globe as well as equally luxurious dinners and other treasures from restaurants, spas and boutiques were offered for the pleasure of the charitable bidders.

Mike and Beverly Mykisen, who later proved the lucky purchasers of the splendid Maui vacation package, were seen rubbing shoulders with fellow bidders Eleanore Doumani and Joanie Shoofey, Joyce and Steve Schneider, Veronica Fuentes, Jack Bulasky, Maryann Hantout and Christine Adams. Adorning the auction tables were dozens of teddy bears, also offered for sale to benefit the UNLV Cancer Research Institute.

Overseeing the elegant ceremony of tea was hotel manager Vince Parrotta with Tamir Shanel, director of food and beverage, who were seen chatting with Stephen Carper, director of the cancer institute. During the serving of tea, informal modelling by St. John Boutique at the Forum Shops at Caesars gave Beth Holt, John and Peggie Groom, Lyra Beck, Michelle Juba, Robyn Williams, Bev Myers, Sonia Wilcox and Colleen Ortiz a tempting look at St. John's fashionable cruise and spring lines.

A private tour of the Four Seasons' Teddy Bear Suite concluded the afternoon.

Air Force Christmas

Christmas Eve proved particularly festive and high-spirited for those dining at Lawry's The Prime Rib.

Arriving in full dress uniform for an evening hosted by general manager Ed Lepere and restaurant manager Matthew Buxton, both of Lawry's, were 25 members of the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Representing both enlisted and officer ranks, the airmen were selected by their superiors to enjoy this special Christmas Eve dinner at the award-winning restaurant.

Patrons who filled out the dining room were quick to join in the patriotic spirit of the occasion, stopping by the military tables to affirm their appreciation of the armed forces efforts in the war on terrorism. More than a few bottles of wine and other select beverages were sent as gifts of the evening, as were dozens of good wishes and thanks.

Charities benefit

Spreading a glow of good cheer far beyond the holidays is the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities and its annual grant distribution.

Held on Dec. 2, the event distributed a total of $250,000 to 41 local children's charities, surpassing 2002 by $22,000 and serving an additional 10 local causes. Generating these funds took many forms, including the NASCAR Driver Auction at Sam's Town Live!, the chapter's first golf tournament, Bob & Mike's third annual birthday bash street rod and race car show and an NHRA Jerry's Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series run-for-the-money event.

On the evening of the grant distribution, the program included performances by the Nevada Ballet Theatre and Culture Shock Dance Troupe, both recipients.

Representatives of Assistance League of Las Vegas, Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer, Chabad of Green Valley, Classroom on Wheels, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nellis Air Force Base Youth Programs, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Street Teens and YMCA of Southern Nevada and 31 more children's charities were given checks to use in our community.

Begun in 1984 by O. Bruton Smith, chief executive of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children's Charities has grown into a national foundation, with chapters in each of the six communities where Speedway Motorsports operates racetracks. Its mission is to assist as many children as possible, with efforts in 2002 resulting in service to 280 nonprofit children's groups, serving 190,000 children.net

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