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Amy Scherzer's diary

Mozart, Motown & More

By AMY SCHERZER
Published April 27, 2007

Mozart, Motown & More saluted the classic sounds of Salzburg and Detroit with tributes to both at the fifth annual Florida Orchestra benefit April 20 at the A La Carte Pavilion.

The full orchestra treated nearly 350 guests to 20 minutes of Mozart, directed by associate conductor Susan Haig in her final MoMoMo appearance, as her contract ends next month. (Maybe she'll turn up on ABC's Dancing With the Stars - she has been taking ballroom dance lessons.) Honorary event chairman Eric Land also showed his stripes, conducting a Sousa march.

Dinner followed, and then celebrity auctioneers Keith Cate of WFLA-Ch. 8 and Tampa Bay Bucs superstar Doug Williams pitched 10 items. When Williams got to the VIP tour of the Bucs training camp in Orlando, he sweetened the deal to rouse bidders. First it was for four guests, and then he made it six. He threw in a football autographed by any player the buyer chose. Then he added six tickets to a Bucs game of choice. Cate suggested adding a parking pass, and the dream package sold for $3,000. A sunset yacht cruise for 10 couples and the quail hunt at Gilchrest Club for six guests fetched $3,500 each.

Tampa Palms Women's Club

Old-fashioned fun filled the runway when the Tampa Palms Women's Club hosted its fifth annual fashion show April 19 at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club.

Club members and volunteers from OASIS, the charity chosen to receive the $2,500 raised that day, modeled eight decades of style, from the 1900s to 1980s, from La France boutique in Ybor City. Crinoline skirts, a siren red ballgown trimmed in sequins and feathers, and a disco minidress brought back memories for 160 members and guests at the luncheon. Past president Barbara Shimer narrated.

Lynn Gruber and Terry Wolford of Tampa Palms started OASIS to provide clothes and supplies for children attending lower-income schools.

President Marion Brookover, fashion show chairwoman Anita Hampson and raffle chairwoman Hilda Hendrickson urged guests to buy chances to win 31 prizes, ranging from an area rug donated by Flooring America to salon services from Chatenbury Place, which also donated its time to do the models' hair and makeup.

Delta Sigma Theta 60th anniversary

The Tampa Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority exceeded expectations when more than 1,200 people joined the 60th anniversary celebration, themed Diamonds and Pearls - A Renaissance of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The women, known for awarding Tampa students more than $20,000 in annual scholarships, planned several events at the Florida State Fairgrounds to mark the milestone.

On April 13, Pieces of a Dream kicked off the fun with a lively jazz concert. Lunch with actor Sheryl Lee Ralph, one of the original Dreamgirls in the Broadway musical and an honorary member of the sorority, captivated the crowd April 14. "Jabberwock, a Harlem Tea" featured a cotillion and talent contest for eight girls who trained for four months before making their debuts April 15. Diedra Goodwin, 13, of Riverview was crowned Miss Jabberwock 2007.

Heart Ball

John and Susan Sykes set out to raise $1-million for the American Heart Association when they agreed to lead the annual Heart Ball. They came close, nearly tripling the gala's previous records, to net $870,000 to fight heart disease. Sykes Enterprises and Sykes Foundation were major sponsors.

"This is the first time they've chaired an event this size, and they really wanted to bring it to the next level," said son Chuck Sykes. John's commitment was evident in the earpiece he wore to stay connected to 50-plus volunteers assisting at A La Carte Pavilion. Susan was so hands-on she never even told the heart association staff what Breezin' Entertainment had booked for the 500 guests at the $500-a-ticket Heart Ball on Saturday.

Westchase's Sandrinne Edstrom, 11, sang. Dorene Collier's dancers and Cirque de Soleil-like acrobats frolicked on stilts and unicycles, performed a torrid tango and paraded gigantic puppets in a Carnivale production that drew members of the crowd to their feet.

All evening, auctioneer Dick Crippen sought Heart Heroes to pledge $1,000 each to send children born with heart defects to summer camp. He raised enough to send 45 kids before auctioning two travel packages. Golf at Sage Valley, S.C., fetched $26,000 from six friends at the Sykes table. Carl Lindell bought the trip to the Kentucky Derby next week for $30,000.

Events

Today: Inaugural R.A.C.E. Hub Cap Awards luncheon benefits Wheels of Success; 11:30 a.m.; Quorum Hotel Tampa; $50; www.wheelsofsuccess.org or 417-1820.

Saturday: Karamu, black-tie gala, benefits Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave.; 6:30 p.m.; $250; 935-8552.

Saturday: A Toast to Hope luncheon benefits Kathy's Place, A Center for Grieving Children; noon, Outback Steakhouse, 11950 Sheldon Road; $50; 541-2672.

May 4: Parents Night Out, Vegas-style hosted by Tampa Bay Area Mothers of Multiples; 7:30 p.m.; Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club; $50 general admission; $125 VIP includes Texas Hold'em tournament; 973-0187.

May 5: Magnolia Ball benefits Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; 5:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $1,000; 745-1403.

May 5: Fifth annual "Tuxes & Tails" Fiesta fashion show dinner benefits Humane Society of Tampa Bay; Pepin Hospitality Center, 4121 N 50th St.; 6 p.m.; $125; 876-4150.

May 12: World's Largest Hurricane Party, supports hurricane relief, 1-8 p.m. at Hooper's Hollow, 4050 Dana Shores Drive, $25; (813) 839-1302, ext. 629.

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 08:05:07]