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All Children's Hospital launched its annual telethon Saturday night with a VIP kickoff party and auction in the Hilton St. Petersburg. It's Year 15 for the gala and Year 20 for the telethon, held in association with the Children's Miracle Network.
I had a previous commitment and didn't get to the festivities, but my friend and former colleague Mary Evertz, who attended with her husband, Bud, reports that about 350 patrons attended.
Decor had a construction-site atmosphere, complete with concrete blocks, roofing tiles and souvenir hard hats to showcase the party's theme, "Building Miracles Together." The hospital will begin a remodeling and expansion program in the fall.
One of the traditions of the fundraiser is the spirited bidding that inevitably occurs as donors compete for a 5-pound Hershey bar, whose actual retail value, as game show hosts like to say, is $65. When the frenzy reached $5,150, an auctioneer produced a second chunk of chocolate and suggested: What say we give both bidders candy, at $5,000 each?
Guests rose to their feet, giving a standing ovation to the idea and the monetary gifts, said Sylvia Ameen, staff coordinator with Rita Wickman for the auction. Sherrie Teague was chairwoman for the event, which raised an estimated $140,000.
Others attending were Darryl LeClair, Martha and Jerry Little, Gary Carnes, Sandy Rief, Ed Ameen, Malcolm King, Jeannine and Jim Hascall, Joanne and Joe Fleece, Elsa Sloss, Dr. Jim Henry, Carol and Dr. Jerry Barbosa, Lupi and David Coffin, Betty and Bob Willis, Janet Raymond, Evelyn and Harry Moorefield, Jim Simmons, Janie Block, Wendy and Dr. Robert Christensen, Malcolm King, Bill Lane, Vickii Block, Carol and Bill Marger, Murray and Doug Beairsto and Gail and Michael Cannova.
Tom and Dennie Masterson also went to the party, along with her identical twin, Debbie Momberg, whose husband, Joel, was on telethon duty at the hospital. WFLA-TV Ch. 8 broadcast the event. Hundreds of volunteers worked the phones there and helped out with the weekendlong Taste of Pinellas in St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park.
Save the date: The All Children's Guild, Evening Branch, has scheduled the 73rd annual Charity Ball in the Coliseum on Feb. 7. Sue Hands is general chairwoman for the event, whose theme will be "Cruisin' the '50s."
Dr. Mendee Ligon supplied details of "A Celestial Evening by the Bay," a gala to honor new members of the St. Petersburg Chapter of Links.
Dana Battle, Bonnie Davis and June Peterman are the most recent inductees into that organization of African-American women. Their husbands, or Connecting Links, Dr. Michael Battle, Ric Davis and state Rep. Frank Peterman, also attended, along with Dr. Reggie Ligon, Terri and Clarence Scott, Faith and Edwin Van, Mozell Davis, Donna and Paul McRae, Inez and Freddie McRae, and Jewel and John Smith of Tampa.
The Saturday evening celebration took place in the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and included Links from Bradenton, Orlando, Sarasota and Tampa.
Mendee Ligon was chairwoman for the event, assisted by committee members Shirley Davis, whose escort was Jim Hennessee; Patricia Stewart; Delceda Thompson; Michelle Ligon, escorted by Rob Ambrose; and Keturah Creal.
Guests with a penchant for organic food crowded into Redwoods, Appeteasers and the courtyard behind the St. Petersburg restaurants Sunday evening at a benefit for Headfirst Farms. That's the organic community garden Susan Huff hopes to get started in St. Petersburg's Midtown community next fall.
More than 200 people tasted offerings from those restaurants and from the next venture of entrepreneurs Emmanuel Roux and Franck Bouvard, who also own the Garden restaurant and Lobby bar. Integrity, a bakery and mostly takeout lunch spot, will open June 15.
The response was "almost overwhelming," Roux said Monday as he and his wife, Jennifer Hardin, chief curator of the Museum of Fine Arts, prepared for a two-week holiday trip to France.
Two bands played, and plants lined the sidewalk along Central Avenue outside.
"Martinis, Masks and Models," the Salvador Dali Museum's Zodiac Group event held Friday evening at Salt Creek Artworks in St. Petersburg, featured good food, sophisticated beverages and intriguing disguises. The masks were the work of bay area artists including Susan Supper, Brandy Starke, Allen Loyd, Rebecca Skelton and the Chogami Project, a collaboration between Michael Chomick and Yoko Nogami.
Black-clad male and female models struck poses throughout the gallery to display the masks, which also were exhibited on tables. The works were available for purchase, with the anticipation that some might be worn at the group's Surreal Ball a few months hence.
Dali director Hank Hine was present, along with Simone Bennett, Chris Agee, Mary Franckle, Christopher Hernandez, Bud Rutland, Melissa Rutland, Frances and Bob Doyle, Tinsley Will, Joe Mazzara, Debbie Harris, Chris Allen, Carrie Johnson, Carolyn and Brian Annis, Shannon Annis, Dr. Gardiner Evertz, Chris Fraser, Susan LeBeau, Natasha Nickodem and Michael Dean.
Elizabeth Parkinson, who grew up in the Tampa Bay area, is nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actress in a Musical.
As Brenda, the prom queen in Movin' Out, her "high-kicking performance to Uptown Girl must be the most glamorous number on Broadway this season," Times performing arts critic John Fleming wrote last month.
The musical was conceived, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp and is based on the songs and music of Billy Joel. It received 10 nominations for the awards, which will be broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS, WTSP-TV Ch. 10.
Parkinson is a daughter of Doris Parkinson, who lives in St. Petersburg, and the late Dr. William Charles Parkinson.
St. Petersburg native Patrick Wilson was nominated in 2001 for his performance in The Full Monty and in 2002 for his work in Oklahoma!
LOOKING AHEADISLAND FESTIVAL 2003: Third annual benefit for St. Petersburg Museum of History features Caribbean theme party. Island attire. Saffron's, 1700 Park St. N, St. Petersburg. $50. 894-1052.
- Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.