Agassi’s Grand Slam offers two days of festivities

While most people know Andre Agassi's annual Grand Slam for Children fundraiser involves a big concert, festivities usually begin on a much smaller scale a day earlier.

This year was no exception as a reception took place Friday at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy to unveil a commemorative artwork by Paul Goodnight, who also has been commissioned to create artwork for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Titled "What Your Heart Hears," the artwork for Agassi was auctioned off during the concert.

The reception took place in the academy's new high school, where guests toured the media room, partook of hors d'oeuvres and champagne, conversed with Agassi and saw the bridge that will be crossed only by students going on to college.

The sold-out gala took place Saturday on the floor of the MGM Grand Garden, beginning with cocktails and canapes, followed by dinner of steak and lobster, a live auction and the concert. The event raised $9.1 million for the Agassi Foundation.

Among the 13 live auction items was a 14-day South African safari that sold for $75,000. Dinner for 12 with chef Emeril Lagasse sold twice for $150,000. A Porsche Cayenne used on "The Sopranos" and signed by stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco went for $90,000.

The winning bid for a Dale Chihuly chandelier was $250,000. Two tickets for Victoria's Secret 2007 Fashion Show cost $55,000. Two families will fly to the private James Island in British Columbia's Gulf Islands for golf for $100,000.

Twelve winners paid $150,000 apiece to fly to Costa Rica for seven nights and a private tennis lesson with Agassi and his wife, Steffi Graf.

Seen among the evening's supporters were Charles N. Mathewson, Marilyn and Chuck Heers, Vicki and Frank Fertitta, Lynn and Bill Weidner, Claudine Williams, Kitty Rodman, Beverly Rogers, David Ashley and Bonnie Moore, Nancy Houssels, Cheryl Purdue, Nancy Strouse, Dina Titus, Camille and Larry Ruvo, Sharon and Norman Jenkins, Rosemarie and Perry Rogers, Paris Hilton, Carolyn Sparks, Jodie and Zafi Diamant, Susan Sawyer, Marsha Williams, Alden and Emeril Lagasse, Marybel Batjer, and Michael Brown and Melissa Warren.

Farewell: Nevada Public Radio honored Lamar and Patricia Marchese at its Sept. 20 benefit at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson.

Among the 600 guests sipping wine and "Lamartinis" in honor of the retiring radio executive and his wife were Flo Rogers, Joy and Pat Shalmy, Diane and Dave Cabral, Jan Jones, Jenny DesVaux Oakes, Thalia Dondero, Rita Meier and Ray Dinardi, and Peter Sagal, host of "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me."

A live auction followed the tribute. Singer Jeffrey Osborne provided the evening's entertainment, singing his signature song, "On the Wings of Love," a fitting tribute to the Marcheses, childhood sweethearts who have been married 41 years.

Celebrating unity: Day of German Unity was celebrated Sept. 3 at Cafe Bleu at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. The evening's format was introduced by Ben Duchek of the Las Vegas World Affairs Council.

Andreas Adrian, honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, spoke and Guenther Behrle, German singer/songwriter performed.

Fall nuptials: Angela Rebekah Bohman, daughter of Becky and Brad Bohman, married David Michael Nolan, son of Robin and Steven Starr and Michael and Sharon Nolan of Las Vegas, Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Community. The Rev. Bill Kenny officiated.

The bride chose a strapless white gown with full-length veil. She was attended by Kami Kimber, maid of honor, and Jannica Law, matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Randee Dickman, Angie Speigle, Jennifer Oman, Erin TePastte, Ashley Manning and Katie Kern.

Best man was Christopher Nolan. Groomsmen were Neil Huffey, John Adams, James Nolan, Nader Helmi, Scott Hillegass, Randy Becker and Christian Schreiber.

The bride and groom are graduates of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas hotel school. The groom is director of operations at Suncoast, and the bride is a recent law school graduate. Following their Costa Rica honeymoon, the newlyweds will reside in Las Vegas.