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Social Scene

By AMY SCHERZER
Published November 3, 2006

NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner

Be a thermostat, not a thermometer, said XM Satellite Talk Radio's Joe "Black Eagle" Madison, rallying 200 guests, including numerous political candidates, at the Hillsborough NAACP Freedom Fund dinner on Oct. 26 at Higgins Hall.

"A thermometer reads the temperature," said Madison, well-known host of The Power. "A thermostat sets the temperature and turns up the heat when necessary."

Madison evoked the spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and late local civil rights legend Bob Gilder, urging the NAACP chapter "to be an activist organization, it has got to get to the streets. The movement must live on."

Past president Ann Porter made an appeal for more membership. Outgoing president Sam Horton, thanked for his six years of leadership, promised to remain active, especially when it comes to registering voters.

Ophelia Project's Mustang Sallies 

Some 360 women giddyupped to the Ophelia Project's Mustang Sallies luncheon to hear Fawn Germer share some of the insights from her book, Mustang Sallies: Success Secrets of Women Who Refuse to Run With the Herd. To explain mentors vs. tormentors, Germer recounted her experience biking 230 miles in Colorado.

Ophelia board member Renee Dabbs summarized her own three tips for edging ahead: "Turn and pull, give a little shove and create a net." When Liz Kennedy invited everyone to join the new Mustang Sally support group with $100 annual dues, 52 women came forward.

First-time Mustang Sallie awards went to senior Lauren Trotter, who started an Ophelia club at Sickles High, and board member Cheryl Rodriguez. The luncheon raised nearly $40,000 for female leadership programs through the Metro YMCA.

MOSI Hispanic Scientist of the Year Gala 

Washington, D.C., seismologist Ines Cifuentes won a warm welcome as the sixth Hispanic Scientist of the Year honored by the Museum of Science and Industry. She began her visit encouraging 1,050 Hispanic immigrant middle school students to study earth sciences. She concluded her stay chatting with 300 guests Saturday at a gala dinner in the museum lobby. Both kids and adults were excited to learn she is writing a children's book - in English and Spanish - on tsunamis and earthquakes.

Although she moved to the United States at age 12, Cifuentes considers herself Ecuadoran. So the dinner centerpieces held American and Ecuadoran flags and entertainment featured Club Social Ecuatoriano de Tampa. She has lived in Paraguay, Chile and Guatemala and recognized many Hispanic nationalities in the crowd. Organizers hope to net $125,000 from the event.

Honoring Deli, Randy and Nancy

Friends, fans, collectors and colleagues of Deli Sacilotto gathered Oct. 28 to celebrate his retirement as director of research at Graphicstudio, the University of South Florida's Institute for Research in Art.

Founder Don Saff, artist James Rosenquist, Salvador Dali Museum director Hank Hine (Graphicstudio director 1994-2002) and current director Margie Miller were among the many who saluted Sacilotto at USF's Lifsey House. He continues as a consultant while completing a book on photogravure.

Orthodontist Randy Feldman became the fifth Champion for Children, and lawyer Nancy Farage received the third Guardian Angel award at Hot Havana Nights, a cocktail party and auction benefit for Voices for Children, a local guardian ad litem support group. WFLA-AM 970 reporter Shayna Lance revealed for the first time her memories of living in six foster homes in three years and attending six high schools. "I haven't even told my husband," she said to the crowd filling the courtyard at the Renaissance Tampa Hotel on Oct. 26.

Events

Today: Children's Dream Fund luncheon fashion show, hosted by Kit and Ron Stewart, 3424 Jean Circle; 11 a.m.; $125 includes a Dream Card for discounts at 120 retailers; (727) 896-6390.

Tonight: Night of the Iguana tasting, casino and auction benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation; 7 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $125; 288-2600

Tonight: Tampa Club Presidents' Ball benefits Mental Health Care Foundation Endowment Fund.; 7 p.m.; Tampa Club, 101 E Kennedy Blvd. Suite 4100; $35; 229-6028

Saturday: Cup of Hope benefits Bay Area Legal Services, 2 p.m.; tea party at South Tampa home of Margaret Mathews; $30; www.bals.org

Saturday: Dressed for the Holidays fashion show brunch benefits Arthritis Foundation; 10 a.m.; Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza; $50; 968-7000

[Last modified November 2, 2006, 12:43:38]