Apr 13, 2008

Fundraising kicked into high (roller) gear

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Paparazzi and red-carpet interviews, boxing in the Grand Arena, Elvis' Chapel, gambling, dancing in the Heartthrob Lounge and dinner in the Showtime Supper Club were highlights of Sacred Heart School's annual dinner party auction. "It's Show Time!" - the sold-out April 5 benefit - attracted nearly 600 parents, faculty, staff and friends dressed in cocktail attire for a night of entertainment and fun, Vegas style.

The Atherton campus event exceeded everyone's expectations and raised the highest revenue yet for educational programs.

Party chairwomen Tish Krieg and Liz Maples and their co-chairwomen Linda Benevento, Stephanie Harman, Karen Hook, Linda Thaure and Sibylle Whittam received rave reviews for their glitzy re-creation of a night on the Las Vegas Strip.

For the second year, Tiffany & Co. at Stanford Shopping Center sponsored the Diamond Celebration Ring raffle. During the cocktail hour, 100 of Tiffany's signature blue boxes, filled with crystal replica rings, were sold and later delivered to the purchasers during dinner. One of the boxes contained a blue porcelain box, which entitled the lucky purchaser to a gift certificate for a Diamond Celebration Ring. Onstage, co-chairwoman Thaure received her gift certificate from Tiffany's BeBe Kolkab, and will be taking three friends for a private "breakfast at Tiffany's" when she retrieves her ring.

A special performance by talented theatrical diva Molly Bell set the scene for the raffle and live auction with "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" and "Hey Big Spender."

Performing auctioneer duties, Director of Schools Rich Dioli produced fun, excitement and high bids with his fast-paced style. The hottest item of the night was a set of rare wines that Dioli sold four times for $30,000 each. He also sold two trips twice - one for a week's stay in a condominium at the Hotel Del Coronado Beach Village in San Diego and the other for a stay at the Esperanza resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - plus two bowling parties hosted by himself and staff members Eileen Bocci and Tim Kerns.

John and Jacque Jarve, Jillian Manus-Salzman, Don and Sarah Lucas, and Lisa and Randy Lamb had fun bidding on hot items, such as an African safari and a high rollers' poker night.

Seen smiling at celebrity look-a-likes Sir Elton John (Chris Martin) and Celine Dion (Connie Solari) and watching the boxing match with 7th-grade champion contenders Patrick Tinsley and Max Krieg were Linda and Dan Rosensweig, Anne Holloway, John and Sandi Thompson, Tim and Melissa Draper, and James Everitt, principal of Sacred Heart Preparatory.

Tablemates Sandy and Dave Levison, Lauren and Brad Koenig, and Jesse Rogers and chairman of the board of trustees Mindy Rogers voted "bride" Suzi Tinsley, with her artificial bouquet, gold shoes and tattoos, and her lounge entertainer-attired "husband-to-be" Ken Tinsley, as the hit of the night.

High rollers stayed late, playing blackjack, craps and roulette, and dancing to the music of Off the Record in the Heartthrob Lounge.


Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 255 Constitution Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.