Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: High tea provides model afternoon for charity

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | 8:15 a.m.

High tea and high style were enjoyed Sunday as Lawry's the Prime Rib hosted a tea and fashion show to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Southern Nevada Chapter.

Judith Mitchell, the chapter's executive director, worked with Nancy Marcellus, Lawry's marketing and sales manager, to plan the afternoon. Directing the models was Brandy Harris (Lenz Agency), with spring and formal-wear selections from Jessica McClintock at the Fashion Show mall, in addition to Limited Editions for Her and Strasburg Children, both at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets mall.

Mystic Mona, a tarot-card consultant, drew an inquisitive crowd during the opening reception attended by Gillian Silver-Rodis (UNLV) and daughter Hannah Rodis, Joyce Kotnik (KVBC Channel 3), Julie Gans, Emily Ihrke (Fashion Show), Charlotte Hill, Irene Vogel, Sally Wathen, Jan McWhirter, Gwen Den Dooven and cousins Rusty Jones and Phyllis Gray.

Lawry's general manager Ed LePere seated Connie Silvaggio, whose 4-year-old granddaughter, Francesa Clarke, was among the adorable children in the fashion show.

Also present to catch the little girl's appearance on film were her parents, Lena and Dean Clarke. Others seen at the fashionable gathering were Patti Morrow, Joanne Vaughan and daughter Michelle Comp- ton, Simone Saler, Annie Ames, Leslie Skinner, Beth Polastri, Gail Austin and Grace Thacker.

Attending with friends as well were Debby Strode, Rich and Cindy Ingling, Faith Elkman and Art Mortenson, who cheered on wife Arta as she modeled.

Funds raised will assist research and local efforts to improve the lives of patients with lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma.

McGuire's dozen

Phyllis McGuire was mistress of ceremonies for "The Vegas Dozen '05: The Men We Love and Why We Love Them," an event honoring 12 men who exemplify the best of Las Vegas and community endeavors, at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Fashion Show mall on April 13.

Those honored were Bob Arum, chairman of the board of Top Rank Inc.; Allan Creel Sr., chief executive of Creel Printing; Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs of MGM Mirage; Robert Goldstein, president of the Venetian; Dr. Ikram Khan, president of Quality Care Consultants; entertainer Wayne Newton; Tim Poster, chief executive and chairman of Golden Nugget; Rossi Ralenkotter, president and chief executive of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Sig Rogich, president of the Rogich Communications Group; Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada; Michael Saltman, president of the Vista Group; and Glenn Schaeffer, president and chief financial officer of Mandalay Resort Group and founder of the Institute of Modern Letters at UNLV.

Held inside Saks at the Fashion Show, the gathering was catered by sponsors Georg and Eva Paulussen of Wild Truffles, who provided a wide-ranging menu of delectables.

Guests included Martin Burger and Jonathan Schiff, both of Related Las Vegas LLC, Michael Novick (Morgan Stanley), Richard Lee (First American Title), jeweler Michael Minden, Abby Geyer (Saks), Bill Marion (Purdue Marion & Associates), Naomi Arin (DUST Contemporary Fine Art), Heather Kurlinski (Nevada Cancer Institute) and Maureen Crampton (Forum Shops at Caesars).

Seated at tiny bistro tables for the program featuring introductions and biographies of the fashionably dressed honorees were Barbara Molasky with Mike Sloan, Tina Feldman, attorney Richard Wright and wife Patricia, Camille Ruvo, Patrick Duffey, Amy Ayoub, David Atwell, John Schadler (SKG), Chantal Cloobeck, Bernice Yuman, and Linda Lee with Frank Schreck.

Introduced by Mari Landers, general manager of Saks and the evening's sponsor, was Heather Murren, president of Nevada Cancer Institute. Murren spoke briefly of the institute's remarkable progress, reflecting on the fact that two years ago they had just a pair of employees, compared to the more than 200 who will be on staff by this fall. The 142,000-square-foot center for research and care is slated to open this summer.

Proceeds from the $100-per-head event, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, benefit the Nevada Cancer Institute, furthering its endeavors to develop a comprehensive cancer research and care center in Southern Nevada.

Teeing off

The "Play Like A Pro" Red Cross Golf Classic at TPC Summerlin was given a zestful kick-off Sunday at Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Personally hosted by Michael Cardenas, managing partner for Sushi Roku and BOA Steakhouse, the lavish cocktail party and silent auction energized players for their windy Monday on the greens.

Impressed by the picture-perfect vistas of the Strip from Sushi Roku's open windows were interior designers Andrea Thomas and Alexandra Charbogne, Craig and Meredith Johnson (Perini Construction), Family Court Judge Sandra Pomeranz, Tony Allison, Napoleon McCallum (a former L.A. Raider), Carlos Sanbrano, Karen James, Ronald Kirk, Larry Tyler and Fred and Alyssa Doumani.

Adding more than a touch of beauty to the throng of guests were Sacha Martin, Delecia Dean and Russian-born Youlia Galenko -- all from "Midnight Fantasy" at Luxor -- and Adam Hughes and Damian Cige, members of "Thunder from Down Under" at Excalibur.

Seen talking about the delectable menu with Vernon Cardenas, corporate executive chef, were state Sen. Sandra Tiffany and auto dealer-casino owner Jim Marsh, joined by Ashley Vail (Las Vegas Gladiators Arena Football League team).

Joe Vassallo chaired the affair, working with committee volunteers including his wife, Alana, John Bastian and wife Trish Williamson, Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, Frank Shaw, Mary and David Vail and Debra Heiser.

Others keeping the event lively were Nancy Ziolkowski, Dan Bryant, Dave Phillips and Victor Rodriguez. Proceeds will assist in the work of the American Red Cross' Southern Nevada Chapter.