How will the Florida Prostate Cancer Network manage without its founder and chairman Bob Samuels? That was the buzz among 650 guests at the Celebration of Hope Gala at the Hyatt Regency Tampa on Sept. 23.
"I birthed the baby, devoted myself to it for 10 years and now it's time for new leadership," said Samuels, founding chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. He will stay involved as a men's health consultant, which led him to joke: "I hear consultants get paid."
Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, also a survivor, presented the annual Pioneer in Prostate Cancer Award to Al Austin, who asked all the survivors, "the fraternity," to stand. He said 44 men in Florida are diagnosed with prostate cancer every day.
Dinner chairman Bob Martinez recruited more than 75 sponsors, including $15,000 sponsor Nick Kotaiche, netting about $200,000. WTVT-Ch. 13 anchor Frank Robertson was emcee and Rev. Abe Brown gave the invocation. Laura York auctioned five items, including two tickets to a watch a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in Austin's suite.
Russ Sloan, chairman of the board of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and also a survivor, takes over for Samuels today.
ANTHER TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: It's unanimous: No one could be more deserving of the Tampa Bay Ethics award than Roy Kaplan, so honored by the University of Tampa's Center for Ethics on Sept. 24. Kaplan fought bias, bigotry and racism for 15 years as executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice. He left NCCJ to teach in the Africana Studies department at the University of South Florida and develop an interdisciplinary doctoral program on Diasporas and Health Inequalities.
Lawyer Bill McBride spoke of Kaplan's "24/7 passion," comparing him to King Arthur. "He has given, cared, loved and been loved, and left a great legacy."
HIGH NOTES: Florida Orchestra followers are doing their part to keep the music playing. On Sept. 20, VIVO! enticed about 65 supporters to That's Amore on Harbour Island. Nicola Romano, owner of the Italian restaurant, joined associate conductor Susan Haig at the piano for a fun sing-along. Between songs and pasta, the VIVO! board talked up Prelude, a series of cocktail receptions planned during Pops concerts.
Haig chatted with more fans Sept. 22 at the Florida Orchestra Guild Tune-Up Tea at co-president Jane Strom's new Culbreath Isles home. About 50 women "shopped" the Guild's activities. Executive director Leonard Stone said if they raise the funds, the orchestra office may move next to the Mahaffey Theater after it is renovated. "Our rent would be $1 a year," said a beaming Stone.
Guild members are invited backstage Monday before the Straus & Mozart season opener at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to pin boutonnieres on the musicians. Haig hinted of a musical surprise involving cell phones.
Unfortunately, a third Orchestra benefit was canceled by Hurricane Jeanne on Sunday night. Here for the Heroes was to have been a joint dinner and auction honoring eight supporters of the Florida Orchestra and Easter Seals.
CALLING ON PHONEFRIENDS: Despite the name, Puttin' on the Glitz, media model and Northside Mental Health Center auxiliary members danced down the runway in comfortable jeans and vests, casual jackets and scarves from Chico's at the 17th annual fashion show to benefit the center's PhoneFriends Latchkey program. Mariachi Vallarta set the tone for playful, Western styles at the A La Carte Pavilion on Sept. 23. The only glitz came from dramatic ballroom dancers Jason Bundy, Collette Marguardt and Tracey Cleary.
The term latchkey evolved after World War II when many mothers went to work and children were home alone after school, said Marsha Lewis Brown, Center director. PhoneFriends trains volunteers to listen to children's concerns, suggest ways to pass time and help with homework until their parents get home, she told the 250 guests. Allergies sidelined emcee Reggie Roundtree of WTSP-Ch. 10. No problem: Jack Harris, WFLA-970 AM, stepped right in.
"Glitz" co-chairs Dottie Johnson and Mary Jane Neale expect to raise about $20,000 again this year.
FOCUSED PASSION: Tampa Bay Lightning photographer Scott Audette had unprecedented access to the team during the recent Stanley Cup playoffs, resulting in an exhibition of 26 photographs called Focused Passion. Audette donated several sets of the photographs to a Merrill Lynch-sponsored auction at Tampa Museum of Art on Sept. 21. One set, auctioned individually, raised $23,000. Tampa financial guru Lou Buccino, one of the nearly 700 guests, bought an entire set. The museum and the Lightning Foundation will split the proceeds, about $15,000 each.
To keep the memories alive, said Buccino, and to benefit nonprofit organizations, he will loan the collection to charity events. Contact him at loubuc@aol.com or 813 390-5770.
- To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com
Datebook
TONIGHT: Y ART auction benefits Y Girls Rule, a YMCA program for teen girls; 6:30 p.m.; Italian Club, 1713 E Seventh Ave.; $50; 229-1305.
SATURDAY: Saturday Night Fever wine tasting and auction benefits Tampa Theatre; disco attire; 6 p.m. premium admission, $80 ($75 for members); 7 p.m. general admission, $50 ($45 for members); 274-8286.
SATURDAY: 2004 Broadway Ball: Hairspray, benefits Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; 6 p.m.; Morsani Hall stage; $250 and up; 222-1037.
SATURDAY: Wines for Life, sponsored by Tampa Palms and Hunter's Green country clubs to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and two children who suffer from the disease; 6 p.m.; Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.; $35; 972-1991.
SATURDAY: Artists and Voters Costume Ball; Cuban Club; 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; poetry, skits and costume contest; $10; 287-0390 or visit www.creativeactivepeople.com
THURSDAY:Georgette's of Old Hyde Park presents Festival of Fashions to benefit Hillsborough Association for Retarded Citizens; 10:30 a.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $50; 273-6364.
