Published originally in the Las Vegas Review Journal | Jun. 26th, 2008
The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation will partner with the Torino Foundation and the Clark County School District by creating the Torino Classroom in Sunrise Children’s Hospital. The program, the third of its kind in the country, ensures in-patient children at the hospital receive classroom education during their hospital stay, including home tutoring. A party followed the announcement June 19 at the Torino Foundation on Wagon Trail Avenue.
Among the invited guests were Dee and Don Snyder, Myron Martin, John Gallagher, Ron Kline, Jonathan Bernstein, Stacy and Jim Hamilton, and Kelly and Travis Burton.
Torino Foundation founder Brett Torino opened his vast warehouse for the party, where his 58 restored multimillion dollar muscle cars were displayed, along with neon lit vintage signs of car dealerships and an antique carousel.
Guests entered Torino’s second-story glass-enclosed offices through 400-year-old carved teak palace doors. The offices were filled with a collection of Tibetan art, a 17-foot Lapis Luzuli conference table and a hand-painted ceiling of Tibetan panels. There was a model of an 800-year-old Chinese palace, and from the Mughal dynasty, a terra cotta horse and carriage.
Chip Miller, of the Sunflower Cafe, located in the Nevada Cancer Institute, catered the affair, and Raging Princess Productions provided a string quartet entertaining Ken Alber, Ryan Doherty, Mark Brown, Eamon Springall, Jack Taylor, Donna and Joe Cook, Scot Silber, Mark Balogh and Dennis Lynch.
NCCF’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gordon introduced Todd Skalmberg, chief operating officer of Sunrise Children’s Hospital, and Tonie Valesano, director of Project Aids and Resources for Kids.
Torino spoke about the philanthropy his foundation is involved in Southern Nevada. Another speaker was Lenny Ware, former UNLV football player and director of education services for the childhood cancer foundation, who will instruct K-12 students.
Thirty years: Nevada Arts Advocates celebrated its 30th Arts Awareness Luncheon on Friday at the Gold Coast.
The Sierra Vista High School Strings, directed by Shelly Burger, played during the reception.
President Anita Laruy welcomed all and thanked Metro Arts Council of Southern Nevada for sponsoring the luncheon.
Metro Arts Council is a new nonprofit coordinating arts and culture organization and was introduced by its president, Joan Loimaugh. Guest speaker was Myron Martin, president of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. He spoke about our community’s cultural dream, which is now becoming a reality with $400 million collected, but $75 million still required, before construction can begin next year.
Among the luncheon attendees were Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, Assemblyman Lynn D. Stewart, R-Henderson and Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas. Also Patrick Clary, Sheila McKay, Nancy Houssels, Marjorie Fields, Cindy Doumani, Randy Soard, Eileen Hayes, Walter Mason, Betty Bunch, Joyce LaGrange, Robert Tota, Sallie Grippo, Mark Zachman, Stan Saito, Jay Hiner, Sandra Frank, Bernice Fischer, Trish Williamson, Marie Ascolillo, Mary Gafford, Jerri Siletta, C.J. and Art Woolston, and Angie Wallin.
Appreciation party: Elizabeth Herridge, the director of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum since its opening five years ago, was honored at an appreciation party Saturday . The museum was in The Venetian before closing recently.
next year.
Among the luncheon attendees were Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, Assemblyman Lynn D. Stewart, R-Henderson and Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas. Also Patrick Clary, Sheila McKay, Nancy Houssels, Marjorie Fields, Cindy Doumani, Randy Soard, Eileen Hayes, Walter Mason, Betty Bunch, Joyce LaGrange, Robert Tota, Sallie Grippo, Mark Zachman, Stan Saito, Jay Hiner, Sandra Frank, Bernice Fischer, Trish Williamson, Marie Ascolillo, Mary Gafford, Jerri Siletta, C.J. and Art Woolston, and Angie Wallin.
Appreciation party: Elizabeth Herridge, the director of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum since its opening five years ago, was honored at an appreciation party Saturday . The museum was in The Venetian before closing recently.
The afternoon event was hosted by Lilian Prusan, Faye Ifshin and Herridge’s husband, Roy Burry. The event was at the South Shore Yacht & Beach Club at Lake Las Vegas Resort.
Special guests were Herridge’s parents, William and Ruth Herridge from Toronto. Burry emceed the afternoon as guests, including Nathan Prusan, Philip Koslow, Charlotte Hill, Candy Schneider, Joanne Vuillemot, Beverly and Mike Mykisen, Caty Crockett, Toni Reiser, David Curtis, Laura and David Mulkey, Jan Craddock and Jenny Parsons of Guggenheim New York, enjoyed butler-passed canapes and libations.
On the crushed copper silk table linens were floral arrangements of hydrangea, dahlias, calla lilies and orchid centerpieces. The hostesses presented Herridge with a certificate to the Optimum Health Institute, near San Diego.
Among the 60 friends attending were Mitch Truswell, Fafie Moore, Lena Walther, Jennifer Parsons, Debra and Mitchell Cohen, Rita Abbey, John Matteson, Steve McCarthy, Lee and Larry Davis, Roy Butler, Emma Durant, Mardean Speck, Bunny and Jay Wasserman, Jan and Ken Kahn, and Diana Bush.
