At a party filled with some of Tampa's youngest and most successful people, I went about my typical meet-and-greet schmoozing and came upon two young ladies.
"What do you do for a living?" I asked.
"We just live off our parents' trust."
I'll pause here to let the incredulous awe sink in.
Understand, I ain't mad at them. But the moment is always a reminder of how much esteem I have for successful and fortunate folks who are doing more than just sunning on the pool deck and flying to Aspen.
Lisa DeBartolo and her sister, Nikki DeBartolo Heldfond, are two of those people.
The DeBartolo Foundation stages its second annual all-star gala at A La Carte Pavilion tonight. The daughters of developer and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo have been the driving forces behind the event.
More than 500 people are expected to attend to eat, drink and mingle with an array of celebrities including Ronde Barber, Wade Boggs, Derrick Brooks, Tino Martinez, Deion Sanders, ESPN commentator Chris Berman and former Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Another general, Tommy Franks, will give the keynote address.
Naturally, all that star power will impress people, including Lisa, the foundation's executive director.
"I still get intimidated sometimes just knowing what they've accomplished," Lisa said. "Take (NFL Hall of Famer) Ronnie Lott. I've known him for 20 years, but I'm still in awe of everything he's accomplished, not only on the football field, but what he does as a human being now."
It's a telling observation. Eddie DeBartolo had owned the 49ers since Lisa was 7. She spent the better part of her childhood amid stars while the Niners went on to win five Super Bowls. Yet, her perspective is more that of a fan and less like the owner's daughter. Something tells me these kids weren't spoiled.
Lisa, 34, began philanthropic work as part of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation. When the family moved to Tampa, she again had the chance to kick back, relax and enjoy the Florida sun. Instead, the sisters started the foundation.
The foundation's Spirit Of Humanity Award provides grants of as much as $10,000 for nonprofit groups that can really benefit from that kind of cash infusion. It also rewards eight annual scholarships.
"We want to raise money to give it away, to donate it right back into the community," Lisa said. "We don't want to say no to anybody."
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Speaking of parties, if you haven't heard, the Artists and Writers Ball is coming back to life.
Mental Health Care Foundation, the fundraising arm of Mental Health Care Inc., will revive the legendary festival May 22 at the newly renovated Italian Club.
The ball evolved from a desire to have a place to party after the Krewe of Sant'Yago Knight Parade. Yes, there was a time when Ybor offered no late-night entertainment. Kids, ask your parents about that.
The party would feature a mock coronation that poked fun at the Gasparilla krewes. Eventually, the party became so popular it evolved into Guavaween and then faded away.
Ken Walters, one of the event chairs, thinks they can capture some of the spirit of those old parties, even though we're all a little older and wiser.
"We came up with the theme of Bohemian Bubbas and Babes," Walters said. "They used to have wild themes, like Daughters of Bizarro and Bad Taste In Outer Space, so we wanted something that sounded like fun."
Bohemian Bubbas? Does that mean you should show up with a six-pack in one hand and bongos in the other? Or would it be better to arrive in overalls and a beret? Talk about a Bohemian Rhapsody.
This sounds like the perfect opportunity to run into Dukes of Hazzard and Jack Kerouac look-alikes at the same party, and believe me, that's no easy feat.
