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Two events help hearts

With a one-two punch, the American Heart Association pounded its powerful message at two distinct events in two days. The inaugural Tampa Bay Heart Ball brought together the black-tie crowd from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties Saturday at the Tampa International Jet Center.

Two days earlier, on May 4, Go Red for Women packed a variety of health screenings and fitness, nutrition and CPR workshops into a lunch hour at Raymond James Stadium.

Both events hammered the point: Take responsibility for your health and heart. In all, the Heart Ball raised about $350,000, and the Go Red luncheon raised $250,000.

Heart Ball chairs Kathy and Ken Hoverman, chief executive of United Healthcare's Gulf Coast region, thanked the honorees, cardiologist Kiran and pediatrician Pallavi Patel, for "changing hearts and minds around the world,'' The Patels are building the Patel Heart Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Patel Total Care and Hospice Center in Lusaka, Zambia, for families affected by AIDS.

The 300 guests danced in the hot hangar to Sharon and the Boys (a.k.a. Sharon Taylor, co-host of AM Tampa Bay on WFLA 970 AM), many in the crowd recalling last year's ball took place on a chilly March night. "Healthy" dark chocolate candy bars at each seat were a hit.

Auctioneers Joel Momberg of All Children's Hospital and Jim Leavitt, University of South Florida football coach, got a big assist from Tampa Bay Buc Shelton Quarles when it came time for an appeal to reduce childhood obesity. Ten $1,000 donors plus United Healthcare, the Patels and Blue Cross/Blue Shield stepped up and received a bottle of champagne.

Wearing bright red, Sweetbay Supermarkets chief executive officer Shelley Broader and WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Ginger Gadsden welcomed the crowd of 400 to the Go Red luncheon.

DIG IT: How nice of the Mayor's Beautification Program to host the 14th annual Silverspoons & Sandcastles auction party on Guy King's birthday, May 5.

The honorary chairman, along with wife Debbie, and Mayor Pam Iorio, enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo party as much as the 650 guests at Tampa Port Authority Cruise Terminal 3. The Mexican menu, music and tequila tasting were crowd pleasers.

Local artists painted gardening items -- pots, rain barrels and watering cans - plus cool wine coolers, which were paired up with plants for sale, including a dozen heavenly hibiscuses grown by Guy King. The Mayor's Beautification Program will see about $150,000 from the event to further enhance Tampa landscapes and help teens grow job and life skills.

IT'S A STEAL: Watches, car stereos, cameras, a Palm Pilot and other "hot" items padded DACCO's (Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office) silent auction at Night of a Thousand Thieves at the Tampa Club on May 5. AvantGold Jewelers fashioned two gold rings from odd pieces of confiscated jewelry to sell.

By bidding on things recovered from burglaries and drug raids, guests and sponsors raised $46,000 to help substance abusers. Costumed members of the Crewe of Bobbie C. Davis also sold raffle tickets.

The highlight of the evening came when Patti Garcia accepted the Thomas E. McKell Award on behalf of Judge Jack Espinosa for his personal involvement in expanding drug court services. Espinosa sent her to DACCO's women's program and "in July, I'll be clean for three years," she said. The award is named for Dr. McKell, a founder of DACCO.

Funds from the party will help build a East Tampa campus dormitory and day care facility for women in residential drug abuse treatment with children.

GEORGETTE FETE: The Hillsborough Association of Retarded Citizens honored Georgette Diaz, owner of Georgette's of Old Hyde Park Village, at Chips for Charity, the 13th annual Oh, What a Knight gala at the Wyndham Westshore on April 27.

Diaz has organized dozens of fashion shows in the past 18 years, enabling charities to raise thousands of dollars. Her husband, Rick, and daughters Tashia and Tiara looked on proudly, knowing how much energy she puts into everything she does.

The party raised more than $35,000 for HARC's transportation fund. Every day, 24 vans transport 200 clients from group homes to work and community outings.

RUN FOR THE ROSES, sip the mint juleps. That's how 75 Mental Health Care Foundation supporters will remember Saturday's Kentucky Derby party hosted by vice chairman Barrett Spencer.

He and wife, Carmen, set up three big-screen TVs in their Sunset Park waterfront home. Waylon Nelson of Wayl of a Time catered the Old South cuisine. Elaine Villain won herself a spa day at Alan Ledo Salon for her prize-winning hat. Donations collected that afternoon brought in $7,500.

ALL THE ELEMENTS: Sand dunes, fiery red lights, whimsical windmills and fountains brought all the forces of nature - earth, wind, fire and water - to Night of 5000 on April 29. The New Tampa Junior Woman's Club evoked the elements to decorate their ninth annual gala at Hunter's Green Country Club.

The event's name referred to the chance to win $5,000 that came with the $60 party ticket. Emcee Don Germaise of WFTS-Ch. 28 drew lucky Larry Powell's name.

Between dinner and dancing, Jan Horn, founder and president of Blooming Place for Kids, spoke about her summer camp program for abused and neglected children in Lithia. She described it as a place to have fun, feel safe and build self-confidence.

In the past five years, the party has raised more than $138,000 for charities, including $40,000 this year.

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.