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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 17, 2002
Even before I accepted the invitation to Wednesday's luncheon and fashion show to benefit the Children's Home, people told me I was in for a treat.
Georgette's of Old Hyde Park Village in Tampa gave a boffo presentation complete with lights brought up from Miami, bay area celebrities and gorgeous clothes.
Georgette Diaz, for whom the store is named, was up nearly all night Tuesday overseeing the installation of lighting and fine-tuning other details.
"We don't call it a fashion show," she said afterward. "We call it a production."
That it was.
Well-choreographed dancers represented the elements -- earth, wind, fire and water -- that gave the presentation a framework. Professional models worked the runway along with sports figures and television personalities, showcasing a stream of designs that ranged from play clothes to formal wear to rain gear.
Appreciative attendees burst into frequent applause.
Lauren Dungy's husband, Tony, is in his new job as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, so it was a pleasant surprise to see her and the couple's eldest daughter, Tiara, on the platform.
WFTS-TV Ch. 28 personalities Brendan McLaughlin, Denis Phillips, Jay Crawford and Bob Kendrick and former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson modeled clothes from Surreys Menswear along with Bucs safety David Gibson and the Rays' Dick Crippen, who did double duty as emcee.
Gayle Sierens, Gayle Guyardo, Jennifer Hill and Debra Schrils, all with WFLA-TV Ch. 8; Jennifer Holloway, Bay News 9; Bobbi Ray Carter, Home Shopping Network; and Margaret Word Burnside, Tampa Bay magazine, are a few of the women who gave the show its energy and verve.
Debbie Hedges and Karol Bullard were cochairwomen of the mid-Pinellas Children's Home auxiliary event, which was sponsored by AmSouth and drew 450 to the ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy. That's a huge crowd. Upstairs in the hotel, as they perused items for the silent auction, the throng generated heat enough to send some people outdoors into the cooling breeze.
Having seen many of the women at similar events throughout the past few weeks, I wondered aloud about how these staministas pace themselves. Bullard, for example, was a cochairwoman of the Salvador Dali Museum's 20th-anniversary festivities last weekend.
"You can steal my purse," said Ann Foster, another volunteer whose time is spread among many good causes, "but don't steal my calendar." Nearby multitaskers laughed and echoed their agreement.
My table mates at the luncheon included Bullard's mother, Irene Lasobik, who stuffed invitations and goody bags; niece Kim Konow; daughter-in-law Michelle Bullard; Peggy Weniger, Donna Tyler, Kimberly Lovato, Mary Potter and Johanna Nekvasil.
Other familiar faces were Carol Mallah, Jill Emery, Stephanie Goforth, Jean D. Irwin, Onnie Hastings and Cathy Unruh.
The Children's Home, the beneficiary of the Mid-Pinellas Auxiliary's fundraiser, was established in 1892. It offers residential treatment, special needs adoption and foster care and community programs.
An inquiring reader asks: What's a silent auction?
At numerous money-raising events, businesses and individuals make donations of goods and services such as restaurant meals, manicures and pedicures, gift baskets, tickets to sports events and concerts. Bidders usually receive identification numbers, then write their bids on sheets of paper next to the items. They may return from time to time to increase their offers above those of competing bidders. Once the auction is declared closed, winning bids are announced, and patrons make good on their purchases.
Monday
LIFESTYLES IN BLOOM: Exhibitors, demonstrators and speakers on topics as varied as pine needle baskets, fiber art, corsage-making, Ikebana flower arranging and cactus, plus tea in the Garden. 1-5 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. $15 (includes museum admission). 896-2667.
ART IN BLOOM LUNCHEON: Lunch and lecture by nationally known landscape designer Martha Baker. 10:30 a.m., Museum of Fine Arts. $45. 896-2667.
GRAND SLAM GALA: Benefit for the Rays of Hope Foundation, the charitable arm of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hors d'oeuvres, cocktail reception, dinner, silent auction. 7 p.m. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. $175. 825-3470.
DESIGNERS' SHOWCASE: Florida Orchestra Guild of St. Petersburg, annual tour of homes. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, except noon-4 p.m. Sunday. 6240 Vista Verde W (corner of Gulfport Boulevard and Royal Palm Drive), Gulfport. Luxury Mediterranean townhomes, light refreshments, gift shop. $10 at the door. 866-2371; 367-2822.