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Amy Scherzer's diary

Women of distinction

By AMY SCHERZER
Published April 1, 2005

Animal activist Jane Goodall's tales of the jungle fascinated guests at the annual Women of Distinction luncheon for the Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council. She began imitating a greeting from one of her beloved chimps and concluded with hope for the "indomitable human spirit" at the March 22 benefit at A La Carte Pavilion.

Before Goodall's adventures, emcee Gayle Sierens of WFLA-Channel 8 introduced the 2005 Women of Distinction: Ruth Eckerd, chair of the Eckerd Family Foundation ; Karen Brown Dunlap, president of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies; Dorothy Mitchell, Pasco County philanthropist; and Sally Baldwin, founder of the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation. Baldwin is credited for the zoo's 1980s renaissance. She was thrilled that Goodall, who travels 300 days a year, vividly recalled visiting the Tampa zoo 14 years ago.

Goodall's message - confidence, courage and curiosity - hit 600-plus guests over Samoa cookie and key lime pie dessert. Raising $50,000 at the lunch will help spread the message to 22,000 Girl Scouts in four counties.

UNIVERSITY WOMEN: Librarians, teachers and nurses are the kind of folks who join the American Association of University Women. All women with a four-year or higher college degree are welcome, said president Cathy Thackaberry at the club's annual scholarship luncheon at the Radisson Riverside Hotel on March 19.

Thackaberry, past-president Bernadette Storck and other members twirled between tables in spring fashions from Aleta's Elegant Wear. Luisella Mazzone, a model graduate student in environmental science at USF and a teacher at Metropolitan Ministries, joined them. She is the recipient of a $1,200 scholarship. Bet she'll join AAUW someday.

TEAM BAXTER: Tampa Bay Community Foundation's donor appreciation dinner turned into a tribute to George and Debbie Baxter. The retiring founders started with no revenues and no salary and grew assets to nearly $100-million.

Recipients of the Baxters' vision were among the 450 guests at Higgins Hall on March 9, representatives of schools, hospitals, arts and cultural groups, and nonprofit agencies assisted by the Foundation. Emcee/board member Gene Marshall introduced a video of the Baxters' accomplishments, which helped the event raise $100,000 for the Baxter Fund.

BIG SCORE: Thanks to generous guests, an eclectic crop of celebrities and deep pockets of the Eddie DeBartolo family, the All Star Charity gala scored $420,000. The money from the Feb. 25 bash soon will be dispersed to high school senior scholarships and grants to individuals and organizations, said Lisa DeBartolo, executive director of the DeBartolo Family Foundation. She will announce the 18th Spirit of Humanity Award of $10,000 to a nonprofit organization this month.

PREVAILING IN PINK: Here's a recap (get it?) of the Pink Hat Project under way by the Women of the Lightning. The group set out to sell 4,000 pink cotton baseball caps at $20 each, with half of each sale going to the Erika and Don Wallace Comprehensive Breast Program at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

So far, 3,000 caps have been sold, said Nancy Crane, executive director of the Lightning Foundation. They're on goal to present $40,000 "when hockey starts again in October." We hope. The pink caps feature a Lightning bolt logo, Moffitt's logo and a pink ribbon stitched on the side. To order, call 301-6590 or log on to www.tampabaylightning.com No tax or postage necessary.

ALL GEARED UP: Like father, like son? When A Gift for Teaching showed its renovation plans to guests at a March 15 preview, honorary board member Don Wallace offered to match their donations. Right there, among the donors, was his so n Donnie with $17 he made at his lemonade stand. The party tally came to $49,000, not counting another $25,000 from the 13 Ugly Men's New Year's Eve party.

With Wallace's match, construction starts Monday. The Corporex Park warehouse will be air conditioned with retail space for the Free Store, where teachers from nearly 60 Title I schools can pick up backpacks, books, crayons, pencils and other supplies for needy students.

BIDDING BONANZA: We've seen some high bids at live auctions lately, but the Academy of Holy Names tipped the scale when it raised more than $100,000 at its March 12 fundraiser. Philip Orsino of Masonite Corp. paid $16,000 to have retired restaurateur Malio Iavarone cook dinner for six at the Davis Islands home of auction co-chairs Larry Repar and Maureen McCaffrey. Another hot item, George Steinbrenner's booth from Malio's, sold for $3,000 to Gerard and Monique Hancock.

"I introduced myself, and we reallly hit it off," said Centeno, who will travel by limo with her husband, John, to dine with the couple at the Rusty Pelican.

LADY LUCK: Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O'Malley named Terryn Burnett to be its 13th leader, called an O'Malley, at a Celebration Ball on March 5 at Higgins Hall. For Burnett's theme, Lucky 13, artist Bobbie Schofield, a founder, designed two party favors. The women got a green shamrock pin with a silver sea horse holding a purple banner that says "Lucky Lady." The guys got the same pin, but the banner says "Got Lucky."

To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com

TODAY:: GreenFest Patrons Party benefits H.B. Plant Park; 6:30 p.m.; South Tampa home of Rosemary Henderson; $75; 837-0131.

SUNDAY: Reach to Recovery benefits American Cancer Society, noon; Tampa Marriott Waterside; $45; 254-3630.

THURSDAY: Judeo-Christian Health Clinic Testimonial Dinner; 6 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $95; 870-3231.

APRIL 8: Fourth annual Cigar & Celebrity Celebration to benefit Achieve Tampa Bay; 6:30 p.m.; Florida Aquarium; $100 ticket includes dinner, select premium cigars, live entertainment and valet parking; 239-1179.

APRIL 9: MASH BASH in Hollywood benefits American Red Cross; black-tie or fatigues; 6:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $150; 348-4820, ext. 869.

APRIL 9: Evening under the Stars, 7 p.m.; dinner at the Wallace residence benefits Joshua House; $500; 873-0098.

APRIL 14: NCCJ 36th annual Silver Medallion Humanitarian Awards Dinner; 6 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $175; (727) 568-9333.

[Last modified March 31, 2005, 08:54:10]