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Masked dancers, a sword swallower and a Cirque de Soleil contortionist led revelers on a merry romp Saturday at the 15th annual Starlight Ball. Good thing the party was packed with doctors attending the University Community Hospital Foundation benefit.
Co-chairwomen Kathy Redmon, gowned in velvet and brocade, and Georgia Behuniak set the Renaissance theme, with feasting and entertainment fit for a King. That would be Larry King Jr. of Cheval, who stepped up to help auction two passes to meet his father the CNN anchor. King Sr. is scheduled to speak at an invitation-only Jan. 13 preopening of the Pepin Heart Hospital. Sold to Tom Pepin for $3,000.
Auctioning a Vagabond Gourmet Tuscan excursion with Laura Schmalhorst for $13,000 combined with $50,200 raised at Premier Beverage Co.'s golf tournament helped UCH raise more than $300,000. The money will go toward women's cardiovascular programs, including the Patel Research Institute and a program called Vitality to help women prevent heart attacks.
Pocket Change kept most of the 780 guests rocking the dance floor till midnight.
BATTLE FOR MINDS: In his invocation at the Victory Ball, retired Col. Emmett C. Lee likened doctors' fight to cure Alzheimer's disease to troops in a battlefield. Saturday's dinner dance saluted the 25th anniversary of USF Suncoast Alzheimer's & Gerontology Center and the 60th anniversary of World War II. Guests appreciated Lee's analogy, especially Col. Richard Y. Newton Jr., chairman of Warriors Against Alzheimer's, a group of military actives and retirees. So did two tables of red-jacketed Tuskegee Airmen invited by Bob Samuels.
Dr. Eric Pfeiffer spoke of new antidementia drugs and other news. Former Sen. Sam Gibbons' war stories soon had the crowd on their feet singing God Bless America. His brother Myron suffered from Alzheimer's. Dick Crippen's live auction "sold" a 2-year Ed Morse Cadillac lease for $10,000 to Jack and Suzanne Barfield. That helped proceeds reach $150,000 for research and caregiver programs.
Chairman John Williams and committee didn't forget the dance floor for the Treble Clefs. They were hoping for 340 guests when they booked the ballroom at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel. They happily squeezed in eight more tables to welcome 400.
POE LEGACY. Besides their five children and 14 grandchildren, Bill and Betty Poe now have another 8,000 kids at two dozen Boys & Girls Clubs who look up to them. Honoring the former Tampa mayor helped draw 650 guests to Busch Gardens, where they raised more than $200,000 at the 24th annual Boys & Girls Club Steak Dinner on Nov. 9.
Introducing Poe, dinner chairman George Levy noted that even when they were on opposing sides of an issue, he never lost respect for him. Poe credited his former assistant, Alton White, for nabbing a $100,000 federal grant for the Boys & Girls Clubs. That got White a standing ovation as his children Andre Moses White and Bernadine White King beamed.
Poe's pal, retired Judge Don Castor, bought a $2,500 table and brought his wife, Mickey, ex-wife, Betty, and county commissioner daughter, Kathy. Friends since Seminole Elementary School, Don and Bill were freshman roommates at Duke. Bill was best man in Don's first wedding and Don was a groomsman for Bill.
At my table, Fabian and Edgar of the Lacoochee club, two of the 180 kids dining with the adults, devoured their Outback steaks and enjoyed the musical revue prepared for the event. Call it Cats meets Cyndi Lauper meets Cirque de Soleil, with a touch of Indiana Jones and a Mummy rap.
SILVER ANNIVERSARY: Red Cross Angels, flap your wings with pride. Since Patte Ayala started the women's auxiliary in 1981, and Bev Austin served as the first president, the group has raised more than $830,000. They earn their wings driving hundreds of people to doctors' appointments, decorating gingerbread houses and dressing up for the annual MASH BASH, coming up April 1. The Angels celebrated Monday at a Silver Tea Party at the home of Meg and Rudy Fernandez on Davis Islands.
WE READ ABOUT IT every day, children removed from horrific homes because of abuse and neglect. Dr. Jack and Judy Guggino and Dr. Kathryn Kuehnle do more than just read about these kids. Voices for Children honored them for caring at the fourth annual Champion for Children dinner. Supporters of the Guardian ad Litem Program hosted 250 guests Nov. 3 at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza, raising $30,000 to help 5,000-plus children stuck in the county court system.
- Pass tips or blog Amy Scherzer at www.sptimes.com/party where you'll find more pictures, events and links, or call 226-3332.
DatebookTODAY: Night of the Iguana food and wine tasting and auction benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation; 7 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $125; 288-2600.
TODAY: Girl Scouts Dessert First dinner and auction benefits Girl Scouts of the Suncoast Council; 7 p.m.; Marriott Waterside; $150; 262-1688.
TODAY: The Children's Home's North Tampa auxiliary's third annual Holiday Gala; black-tie optional; 7 p.m.; Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club; $125 or $200 a couple; 971-3016.
SATURDAY: Let's Have a Ball casino night benefits Interbay-Glover YMCA; 7-11 p.m.; Lion's Eye Institute, 1410 N 21st St.; $60 or $100 a couple; 839-0210.
WEDNESDAY: Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Debutante Ball; invitation-only; Tampa Convention Center.
WEDNESDAY: Get Roasted benefits Arthritis Foundation; 8 p.m.-3 a.m.; Hyde Park Cafe, 1806 W Platt St.; $10 includes drink specials and Thanksgiving treats; www.13uglymen.com
NOV. 30: Choice Affair benefits Planned Parenthood; guest speaker author Barbara Ehrenreich; honoree Dr. Charles Mahan; noon; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $50 or $20 for students; (941) 365-3913 ext. 101.
DEC. 1: H.B. Plant Museum Society's Holiday Cocktail Buffet and Victorian Christmas Stroll preview party; 7 p.m.; 401 W Kennedy Blvd.; $75; 254-1891.
DEC. 3: HC United Soccer Holiday Gathering benefits league scholarship fund in memory of Northwest Elementary principal Mark Dafeldecker. 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Harbor Golf & Country Club, Lutz. $50 per couple includes food, dancing, entertainment by Rafael & Co. Cash bar. Call 264-4272.