LIFE'S A BEACH: The wows began as patrons boarded yachts from Galati docked behind Tampa General Hospital. Everyone else arrived on HARTline trolley-style buses. For three years, partygoers had been waiting for an invitation to Ron and Beverly Bailey's estate on the southern tip of Harbour Island. About 450 guests got their peek Saturday night when the couple hosted their first charity event, Tampa General Hospital Foundation's '60s Beach Bash.
Nothing was off limits in the gorgeous 13,000-square-foot home, except maybe Bev's closet. Master suites, home theater, office, billiards room, "even the maid has it made," wagged a guest.
Beach balls set a sunny color scheme. Guests happily dressed down in capris, shorts and sundresses. Even the roast pig on the buffet wore sunglasses. Bidders held up shiny pinwheels to raise $7,325 in a live auction. They might have raised more but the crowd was too busy exploring and swaying to Still Surfin's Beach Boy tunes.
Tickets started at $250, but 50 couples who paid $1,000 received a cute hors d'oeuvres plate made by Katie Pieper White. Nearly 25 corporate sponsors ($5,000 and up) got crystal bowls from Tiffany's engraved with their names.
Co-chairs McIver Berner and Debra Roberts expect the Beach Bash will net more than $140,000 to help double the capacity of the hospital's trauma center.
PERFECT PARTNERSHIP: Chairwoman Brenda Ketchey looked ecstatic in hot pink at Silhouettes of Style, a joint Chiselers and H.B. Plant Museum Society fashion show staged by Neiman Marcus on Monday at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Two years ago, the luncheon raised $90,000. Ketchey expects to net $130,000 for the preservation of Plant Hall at the University of Tampa. Marcelina women's club was top sponsor, donating $10,000. Nearly 700 women and maybe a dozen men eyed trends ranging from the dressy Courtney Love to Let's-go-to-Pavilion.
GOODBYE FOR NOW: "I'm not leaving forever," said Denver Bronco John Lynch, his voice quavering as he spoke at the Judeo-Christian Health Clinic testimonial dinner April 29 at Higgins Hall. Selecting the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and his wife, Linda, as the clinic's 2004 Humanitarians was a wise choice. Who knew the Bucs would not renew his contract?
Monsignor Laurence Higgins invited some "star" student-athletes from the Lynch Foundation to speak, including Lynch Family Legacy Scholarship winner Johnny Dicks, who drove down from the University of Florida, and Kyle Romano, a Plant High sophomore. Bobby Wilds of the Boys & Girls Club expressed the loss of their mentor. Just one former teammate, Martin Gramatica, was spotted among the 590 guests who helped raise about $85,000.
Rev. Jim Holmes founded the clinic, which served more than 14,000 medically indigent patients last year. Surgeon Sylvia Campbell, the clinic's president, listened as WFLA-Ch.8 anchor Gayle Sierens presented the Good Samaritan award to a compassionate, caring "angel." Having been told it was for a nurse, Campbell was stunned when she realized the award was for her.
As always, emcee Dr. Ernie Reiner ended with a laugh. Noting that he and Higgins had double knee replacements, he quipped: "Monsignor got his playing soccer. I got mine from praying for the Bucs since 1976."
AND THEY'RE OFF: Friends of the Arts gathered post-Derby at Moonlight and Roses to raise $10,000 for the Tampa Museum of Art. Host Mia Hardcastle made horse topiaries to decorate her waterfront Ballast Point home Saturday. (Guess who won the Crazy Hat Contest? Check out the photo.) The Mike Molten Group rocked under a bright moon. Helen Chavez and Jessica Raia-Long coordinated the food and drinks, all donated by Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q, Six Tables, Sahlman's Seafood and Great Harvest Bakery. (Visit Raia-Long's NoHo Bistro gourmet sandwich shop opening next week at 1912 N Howard Ave.) Co-Chairs Leigh Fletcher and Heidi Hobbs declared the party a win at a beautiful place where they could show their support.
MORE MINT JULEPS: Hats off to organizers of the Easter Seals annual Kentucky Derby party Saturday afternoon at the Tampa Palms Reserve home of Pauline and Brian Christopher. Johnny Carino's served an Italian buffet on the pool table to 100 guests watching Smarty Jones race across the finish line. Judge C. J. Hartland picked Marie Christopher, 13, for creating the Most Derby-Related hat. Deborah Guch won Most Glamorous; her mother Pat Speaker won for wackiest hat. Event chairwoman Kelly Fenstermacher expects the $150-ticket fete to raise $39,000, including the $20 bets she dubbed "benefit wagering" as the money funds Easter Seals' work with special needs children and adults with disabilities.
- To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com
DATEBOOK
TODAY: Mozart, Motown & More dinner and auction benefits the Florida Orchestra; 6:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $125; 286-1170, ext. 318.
TODAY: SilverSpoons & Sandcastles XIII benefits Mayor's Beautification Program; 7 p.m.; Tampa Port Authority's Cruise Terminal 3; $60; 221-8733.
SATURDAY: Cinco De Mayo party to benefit the Centre for Women; 7 p.m.; home of Rahul Mehra; $25; 251-8437, ext. 225.
SATURDAY: Magnolia Ball benefits H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Magnolia Lodging Program; 6 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $350; 632-1403.
MAY 14: Follow Your Heart Around the World dinner and auction benefits Heartbeat International; 7 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $75; 243-8769.
MAY 15: Imagination, second annual gala benefit for KidCity, the Children's Museum of Tampa, 7 p.m.; John F. Germany Public Library, $200; 760-1111.
MAY 20: Oh, What a Knight benefits the Hillsborough Association for Retarded Citizens; 6 p.m.; Busch Gardens, $150; 273-6363.
