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Amy Scherzer's Diary

Amy Scherzer's Diary

If Eddie DeBartolo makes any more friends, he's going to have to get a bigger hall for the DeBartolo Family Foundation All Star Charity Gala.

By AMY SCHERZER
Published March 3, 2006

Guests didn't need a backstage pass for access to 30-plus celebrities at A La Carte Pavilion Feb. 24. A couple of generals, pro athletes, actors and other "stars" scattered through the party, actually enjoying the attention.

Terminator star Linda Hamilton spent much of the evening chatting with financial planner Lee Mezrah. Oscar-nominee Seymour Cassel flirted with his dining companions. Gen. Tommy Franks captivated his table. A dozen San Francisco 49ers, the family team, bulked up the guest list: Harris Barton, Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott, Freddie Solomon, Gary Plummer, William Floyd, Reggie Givens, Roger Craig, Steve Bono, Eric Wright and Carmen Policy.

Past and present Tampa Bay Bucs made a strong showing: Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, Jeb Terry, Martin Gramatica, Michael Pittman, Shaun King, Chidi Ahanotu and Steve DeBerg. Also baseball greats Wade Boggs, Lou Piniella, Gary Sheffield and Vince Coleman. From ESPN came Chris Berman and Joe Theismann.

The ballroom shone in shades of fuchsia and chocolate, with the dinner menu (filet and lobster tamale) printed on a chunk of chocolate. Dessert came in scoops from an Ed & Eddie's ice cream cart in the corner. Boyz II Men harmonized to recorded tracks and a full dance floor.

Lisa DeBartolo and Nikki Heldfond, two of DeBartolo's daughters, noted 400 guests attended their first gala and this year, their fourth, topped 700 and raised about $500,000.

Astronomical auction bids included $15,000 to join a reunion with players and coaches from five 49ers' Super Bowl teams at Paris hotel in Las Vegas. Two tickets to Super Bowl XLI in Miami, including charter flight and hotel, went for $11,000 and a Loree Rodkin necklace for $11,000.

Candy DeBartolo supported her own cause, bidding $13,000 for lunch and a dance lesson with former 49er Jerry Rice.

BUTTERFLIES EVOKE HOPE: A familiar face, actor Jon Voight, returned to emcee the Florida Holocaust Museum's To Life, To Children, To Hope, tribute dinner Saturday for the sixth year. And a new face, museum executive director David Schafer, was introduced.

Silence fell over the 700 guests at A La Carte Pavilion when guest speakers Jacquelyn Murekatete and David Gewirtzman shared uncanny parallels between their tragic youth. She was 9 when her parents and six siblings were tortured and killed in the Rwandan genocide, where 800,000 people were killed.

An uncle adopted her in 1995 and brought her to New York, where she heard Gewirtzman speak to her high school. He was one of just 16 of the 8,000 Jewish residents of Losice, Poland, to survive the Holocaust. He arrived in New York in 1948 and became a pharmacist. When he met Murekatete, he suggested they begin speaking together.

U.S. Rep. Bill Young received the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award from the founders of the museum, Edie and Walter Loebenberg. Following the butterfly theme, Joyce Tawil designed the centerpieces and painted a butterfly on canvas with her cousin, Matt Garcia, to sell in the silent auction. The ballroom glowed as guests lit candles for a poignant finale by the Tampa Bay Children's Chorus singing, Let There be Peace on Earth.

A silent auction culminated the Butterflies of Hope project between the museum and the Outdoors Arts Foundation. You might have seen the butterflies at Westfield malls, painted by Mary Frankle, Eileen Goldenberg, Joan Allyn, Jeff Monsein, Maggie Newman and 15 other artists. Auction proceeds brought the event's proceeds to $300,000.

HAIL THE POWER OF THE BEAD: Like last week's Olympics, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla's coronation ball offered close competition, dazzling costumes and cheering fans at the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday.

Top scorer: Katherine Dobbins, 24, daughter of royals, King Fred (the 92nd) and Queen Lesley (the 59th ) won the most votes to become the 93rd queen in 102 years. A graduate of the Academy of the Holy Names, she attended Catholic University of America, where she was captain of the freshman debate team. She studied filmmaking in Los Angeles until late 2004 when she moved home and worked for Florida Consumer Action Network. She plans to enroll at the University of Tampa to study communications.

Gasparilla King Michael Annis, managing partner of Foley & Lardner, drew double applause when the University of Florida and Florida State fans among the 1,200 guests learned he has a law degree from UF and a master's degree in accounting from FSU. Can't wait to see what his courtiers will wear next year. Dobbins' courtiers surprised him and wore "Gator" blue velvet and orange satin costumes out of loyalty to the UF grad.

Reading King Annis' resume, emcees Capt. Hal Mullis and Robert Glaser said the tax lawyer loves wine, poker and "can be frugal. Like Warren Buffett, he has driven the same car for over 11 years."

Seven of the youngest pirates escorted their wives to seats in the Jeweled Circle following the six 2006 maids and courtiers, the men dressed in as much satin and lace as the women. Then they were on their feet, swaying to the Spinners, a soul group popular in the '70s.

To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, blog her at www.sptimes.com/party where you'll find more pictures, events and links, or call 226-3332.

SATURDAY: Out of This World, 13th annual Steppin' Out Gala benefits St. Joseph's Hospitals Foundation; 6:30 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $200; www.fsjh.org

SATURDAY: Evening in Tampa benefits National Eating Disorders Association research; 6 p.m.; Don Vincente de Ybor, 1915 Republica de Cuba; $50; 974-2926.

SUNDAY: Tampa JCC/Federation President's Dinner features Madeleine Albright; 6:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $100; www.jewishtampa.com

SUNDAY: Oscar Night America live telecast benefits Tampa Theatre; VIP party, 5:30 p.m., $125 ($120 for members); general admission, 7 p.m, $35 ($30 for members); 711 N Franklin St.; 274-8982.

MARCH 10: Chiselers' Market Preview Party and Auction; 7 p.m.; Plant Hall at University of Tampa; $50; 253-0037.

MARCH 11: Tale of the Sea hosted by South Tampa Auxiliary of the Children's Home; 7-10 p.m.; Harbour Island home of Ron and Beverly Bailey; $150 per person or $275 per couple; 864-1532.

[Last modified March 2, 2006, 13:56:08]