Beach Party raises millions of dollars for Nevada Cancer Institute

With mai tais in hand, invited guests climbed aboard a banana boat and were transported from valet parking up the tiki torch-lined hill to the Hammer’s home, which had been transformed in a Jamaican island retreat. Guests entered the grounds by debarking at a red wooden-plank dock that completely surrounded the home’s entrance. It was large enough to accommodate two bars, seating areas and the Lion Pride Reggae Band.

Guests included U.S. Sen. John and Darlene Ensign, Marie Claire and Rino Armeni, Jan and Owen Nitz, Louise and Felix Rappaport, Heidi and David Straus, Sue and Dave Clark, Andrea and Richard Goeglein, Camille and Larry Ruvo, Jack Raftery, Sue and Barry Becker, Mary Alice and Scott Nielson, Karen and Bill Goff, Judy and Scott Machabee, Shelley and Tom Burns, Angie and Pete Becker, Rollie and Teri Sturm, Jill and Frank Fertitta and Mary Kaye Cashman.

They entered a courtyard where walls were decorated in corrugated siding in the party’s colors of red, green and yellow. A large dance floor and stage area boasted a neon reader board announcing the evening’s 145 donors who each contributed from $7,500 to $75,000. Tickets were sold at $500 each for a chance to win a 2007 Mercedes Benz; the lucky winner was Rob Catalano.

The event raised millions of dollars for the cutting-edge cancer institute.

Southern Wine & Spirits poured drinks from 14 bars and the Bellagio provided 20 chefs at cooking stations scattered about the pool and patio who served gourmet hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, barbecue rib salad, sushi and assorted pizzas. The pool house offered a deluxe buffet of antipasto, poached salmon, tortellini, rigatoni and spicy shrimp. Chocolate fountains had fruit, marshmallows, Rice Krispie squares and petit fours for dipping.

Jack Sheehan emceed the event. Entertainment included the Sacred Heart Band with Jim Belushi, followed by Michael Cavanaugh, an accomplished pianist-singer and protege of Billy Joel.

Among the 700 guests enjoying the bash were Denise and Tim Cashman, Kathy Parraguirre and Jack Woodcock, Patricia and Richard Wright, Randy Black, Allison and Jocelyn Tichenor, Milo Kostelecky, Sandra and Richard Murdock, Lisa Stark, Bernie Schiappa, Charlotte and Wally Besuden, Rick McGough, Denise and George Mehocic, Razz and Jim Meservey, Phyllis Schwartz, Debbie and Jim Trevino, Susan and Leonard Mardian, Rhonda and Brittany Lem, Wes Adams and Gerry Windell.

Honoring the arts… The Nevada Arts Advocates had its Arts Awareness Luncheon Sept. 12 at the Gold Coast. The Las Vegas Academy Strings provided musical entertainment for arriving guests, which included MJ and Jack Harvey, Rose Mckinney James, Lara and Christian Kolberg, Robert Tota, Candy Schneider and Angie Wallin.

Nevada Arts Advocates was established to promote cultural arts in Nevada. President Anita Laruy introduced legislators in attendance, including Assemblymen Dennis Moises, Mark Manendo, Lynn Stewart and Richard Segerblom, State Sens. Mike Schnieder and Joyce Woodhouse; and former Assemblywomen Gene Segerblom and Vonne Chowning. Henderson Councilwoman Gerri Schroeder also participated.

The city of Henderson sponsored the luncheon. Bud Pico, event chair of the City of Henderson’s Department of Cultural & Tourism, spoke about the upcomming Leonardo da Vinci exhibit and future events scheduled to take place in Henderson’s Event Plaza. Emcee Julie Gilday Shaffer introduced entertainer Clint Holmes, the Nevada Arts Advocates ambassador for the arts, who spole on the gratification received from being involved in the arts and his own foundation that supports arts for local schoolchildren.

The luncheon’s guest speaker was State Sen. Dina Titus, who gave a legislative overview emphasizing the difficulty of obtaining state funding for the arts.

More arts supporters attending were Joyce LaGrange, Audrey Roberts, Pablo Florez, Patrick Clary, Joan lolmaugh, Jackie Maynard and Sally Ahlsteadt. Julie Shaffer announced the upcoming Nevada Arts Advocates Gala, scheduled for Oct. 13 at the MGM Grand Conference Center.

Money for children… Nevada Child Seekers had a sold-out fundraiser, Le Gala de Cuisine at Cafe Bleu, at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts on Sept. 7. The evening was the celebration of Nevada Child Seekers presentation of its 2007 Child Advocate Award to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Emcee was Steve Schorr of Cox Communications.

Chefs Mark Le Vasseur and Carlos Fernandez of Le Cordon Bleu created a custom menu for the event featuring dishes made with Goodman’s favorite drink, Bombay Sapphire Gin. Guests dined on melon and orange Stilton Bombay, duck Bombay, Bombay pomegranate granite, sea bass with chive Bombay Cream, and an entree of roasted veal loin with Bombay juniper and thyme rub, followed by dessert of Sapphired mango Bavarian. Mayor Goodman has received in excess of $100,000 for touting Bombay Sapphire Gin, all of which has been donated to benefit various local charities.