Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.
Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoyt@ prodigy.net.
Jetting in from London for a planning session and cast gathering, Michael Flatley was much in evidence at New York-New York during his recent Las Vegas visit. The dynamic dancer who created, directs and produces his namesake "Lord of the Dance" show, Flatley led planning sessions for the cast as it started preparations for a career day and student workshops with local members of Irish step-dance troupes.
Working one-on-one with the girls, age 8-15 years, cast members will provide precise instruction, vocational advice and encouragement as well as conduct backstage and costume tours for selected students onstage at New York-New York.
Flatley, a true supporter of such mentoring activities in our community for the past three years, has asked Catriona Hale, the cast's principal dancer, to take a leadership role in the educational outreach program in the months ahead.
New home
Rainbow colors, plentiful toys and cheery balloons were used to decorate the new offices of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada. With a mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, this agency impacts the lives of many area families.
The organization's new offices at 3885 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 1000, were officially opened with ceremonies led by president Barry Mattison. Present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were executive board officers including Tom Masterson (vice-president), Yvette Harrison (treasurer), Jennifer Tuttle (secretary), retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier Gen. Roger A. Jones (immediate past president) as well as Board of Director member Marla Letizia with husband Tom, and Dr. Keith Boman of the Make-A-Wish Advisory Council.
Susan Weintz, a superstar among the many in the group's volunteer pool, chaired the late-afternoon party that also served as a fond farewell for departing Executive Director Kathy Stewart Hopper. Hopper has relocated to the Miami area, joining husband Alan Hopper, the former Las Vegas Hilton publicist who is part of Don King's management team in Florida.
Seen in attendance were Darrel Smith, Tod Young, Linda Orr, Ralph Guiterrez, George Weintz, Judy Reich and May Kelleher.
Charitable donation
Robert Debry, president of First National Bank of Marin, clearly lifted the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas out of the summer doldrums last week with the presentation of a $10,000 check. The funds will be allocated to clubs in Las Vegas that service members from families with low-to-moderate incomes, as well as its affiliated Family Resource Centers. Services provided will include computer skills and job training, GED preparation classes, financial literacy courses, English instruction and immunization clinics.
Accepting the check were Executive Director Debbie Vergis and development director Barbara Erickson. First National Bank of Marin, operating from its corporate headquarters Las Vegas, is a financial company that handles credit card purchases and other special banking services. This month's donation marks the beginning of a community partnership between the bank and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas.
Golf for a purpose
Last week the strong, hearty and dedicated turned out in the August heat for the Las Vegas Founders' Champions' Day for the Invensys Classic at Southern Highlands Golf Club. Las Vegas Founders' Club has as its primary function to serve as the governing body of the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas. Proceeds from this annual tournament are placed with the group's philanthropic arm, the Las Vegas Founders' Golf Foundation, which makes significant contributions to worthy youth organizations within our community.
Present for the event was last year's Invensys Classic champion Billy Andrade, a charming spokesman who reminded all players of the 2001 Invensys Classic slated for TPC at Summerlin on Oct. 10-14.
A full field of 144 golfers took on the challenge of the Southern Highlands Golf Course, playing with a scramble format, starting at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. Players included locals and visitors, among them Assemblyman David Goldwater, Jack Sheehan, Bob McMonigle, Julian Dugas, Jerry Dye, Stan Jones and Steve Schorr. Highlights of the morning included the presentation of more than $1 million to 12 Las Vegas charities by Tim Cashman, chairman of the Las Vegas Founders' Golf Tournament.
Funds from last year's event were distributed to the UNLV Men's Golf Program, Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, New Horizon Academy, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Variety Club of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Nevada Inner City Youth Golf Association and the UNLV Women's Sports Foundation. Also awarded were the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Opportunity Village, Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas and Boulder Dam Area Council Boy Scouts.
Following their rounds, tournament golfers enjoyed the artistry of Chef Michael Connolly as they dined in the upper dining room at Southern Highlands Golf Club. The luncheon menu included penne pasta primavera, grilled chicken breasts with artichoke hearts, Caesars salads, beefsteak tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella and desserts to tempt an angel.
Golfers, each of whom donated generously to participate, were given parting gifts of pewter picture frames, Invensys golf shirts and golf towels and a Southern Highlands golf bag.
archive
