NEW NAME, SAME GOAL: Divine Providence Food Bank, now named America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay, invited 400 gourmets to put their money and their mouths to a good cause: feeding the hungry and funding the Beth-El Farmworker Ministry.
Food and wine connoisseurs wait all year for this auction, Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation, which features lavish wine and dinners catered by local chefs. For example, dinner for 10 at Bern's Steak House sold for $4,000.
WTVT-Ch. 13's Russell Rhodes introduced eight chefs, including guest chef Marc Vetri of Philadelphia, between the five courses they prepared May 22 at the Marriott Waterside. Six restaurants served pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres.
Guest Jim Whittlesey gave top billing to La Terrazzo's seared sea scallops in vermouth and a white balsamic vinegar reduction. His expertise? Son Bryce Whittlesey, chef at the Wheatleigh in Berkshires, Mass., is featured in the May issue of Food & Wine magazine. His hotel was rated No. 1 in America by Conde Nast.
PAVILION PREVIEW: With five months until Pavilion XVIII, co-chairmen Harrison and Tom Giddens are busy planning the Tampa Museum of Art's major fundraiser. (Last year's Pavilion ball raised more than $260,000.)
Revel in the Sensation: New York will celebrate the Big Apple in food, music and ambience on Nov. 8 at the museum. Apparently, guests at the white- or black-tie gala will not need hard hats because construction of the new museum is behind schedule.
Prices will be the same as last year. Regular guests will pay $350 each. For $600, patrons also will receive invitations to a high-fashion cocktail party on Sept. 8 at Saks Fifth Avenue and to a Nov. 6 dinner and live auction at the home of Tim Gannon, Outback Steakhouse senior vice president. Bonefish Grill will cater dinner; dress is to be "Hampton's Chic."
Once again, a Second Wave party will begin midway through the evening to attract young supporters with leaner wallets.
More than 30 committee chairs are helping the Giddens, including several organizers of previous Pavilion events. To name a few: Sara and Mort Richter, entertainment; George and Mary Lib Howell, patron party; Bonnie and Jim Judy, decorations; Celia Ferman, menu; Dick Greco and Linda McClintock Greco; and Sandy and Floyd Juster, patrons.
By mid June, guests will be able to RSVP online at www.thepaviliontma.com Graphic artist Marc Dahl is creating the Web site to give constant updates on the live and silent auctions and sponsors.
BEADS AND BRAINS: Grand Krewe de Libertalia put smiles on five faces at their 11th Treasure Chest Scholarship Banquet. Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ray Snell spoke to 75 guests May 16 at Tampa Museum of Art. Emcee Jerry Green read the krewe's history and Tampa poet laureate James Tokley recited a poem especially for the occasion.
Dinner was donated by Oak Smoked Bar-B-Que, which added a $500 scholarship for dessert. The krewe chose Eddie Massey, a Turkey Creek Middle School student, to receive a future scholarship to any Florida community college.
Coastal Dental Services, Hill Stephens Insurance and krewe members John and Andrea Mason also sponsored $500 Comeback Kid awards. Recipients were Michelle McAffee, Shronica Lane, Angela Morrell, all students at Gary Adult High School, and Rawlins Rosario from East Bay High School.
GOT HER WINGS: Red Cross Angels president Nancy Anderson passed the gavel to her successor, Martha Vaughn, at an installation luncheon on Tuesday at the Tampa Yacht Club. Then, Vaughn, in her last act as first vice president, named Anderson Angel of the Year.
Anderson was still president when members submitted nominations and was shocked to see all but one named her the top angel.
"She tried to decline, but I insisted she accept the honor because she was so deserving," said Margaret Ann Koulouris, Angels' president for 2001-02.
Red Cross Angels raise funds primarily to finance "Angel Wings," a free service that provides transportation to and from medical appointments.
MORE GREEN THAN EVER: GreenFest 2003 chairwoman Sue Isbell called to say the two-day gardening workshops, luncheon and patrons' party raised $16,600 for Friends of Plant Park, up from less than $10,000 last year.
"We were so pleased that we booked landscape designer Chip Callaway of Greensboro, N.C., again for next year," Isbell. The event is set for March 27-28.
ALSO MAKING GREENBACKS: "For the Love of a Garden" raised $75,000 for Friends of the Tampa Garden Center. The Feb. 14 cocktail party auction was co-chaired by Joanne Frazier and Denise Rasmussen. Funds will pay for renovation of the Tampa Garden Center and grounds.
Elsewhere, the 12th SilverSpoons and Sandcastles auction on April 25 netted $123,000 for the Mayor's Beautification Program, their biggest auction yet. Former Mayor Sandy Freedman, who started the program in 1989, said Mike Trocke shares credit for getting it off the ground (or in the ground) with Hal Flowers, Sue House, Ron Arkay and Ross Ferlita.
Kudos to the SilverSpoons folks for putting together an auction package of two tickets to six nonprofit fundraisers: Nauti-Night (benefits Florida Aquarium); Diamonds Are Forever (Kid City); Einstein on Wine (MOSI); Second Wave of Pavilion (Tampa Museum of Art); Zoofari (Lowry Park Zoo); and Sipping on the Dock of the Bay (Children's Home). In return, each of the nonprofits will get two tickets to SilverSpoons and Sandcastles 2004.
- Amy Scherzer's Diary is going on summer vacation, but call anyway to pass along tips, 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com
SATURDAY: Mozart, Motown and More, dinner, auction, dancing to the Florida Orchestra; 7 p.m.; A La Carte Event Pavilion; $150; 286-1170, ext. 318.
THURSDAY: Tampa and Ybor City Street Railway Society reception; 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the car barn, 1313 Sixth Ave.; $20; 636-0289.
JUNE 14: Fortune Education Foundation Celebrity Elegance auction and dinner; 6 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $75; 936-9090.
JUNE 19: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Grand Finale Gala, Man & Woman of the Year announced; 6:30 p.m.; Marriott Waterside; $100; 963-6461.
JULY 10: Einstein Dine brings MOSI supporters together for dinner at 12 restaurants; 7 p.m.; $100; 987-6077.
AUG. 9: WaZoo, sample 100 imported beers and wines to benefit Lowry Park Zoo; 7 p.m.; $25 in advance, $30 day of event; 935-8552, ext. 239 or www.lowryparkzoo.com
