Make-A-Wish gala honors Linda Richardson

Supporter Linda Richardson was honored Saturday at the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada Chapter's gala at Planet Hollywood Resort. The organization grants wishes for Southern Nevada children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Guests, including Virginia Richardson, Jack Libby, Jewel Brooks, Parvin and Ted Jacobs, Fred Nassiri, Glynda and Jim Rhodes, Deborah and Robert Holgate, Schyler and Gordon Richards, Saundra and Bob Richardson, Betty and Bob Robinson, and Betty and Leonard Carpi, were greeted by costumed characters from movies and books as they entered the Grand Ballroom through a large silver star studded with electric lights.

The event's sponsors were Yvette and Ellis Landau, honorary dinner chairwoman was Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons, and dinner co-chairs were Sandy Peltyn and Rino Armeni.

Seen among the dinner committee members were Debbie and Neil Swissman, Noey and Billy Richardson, Barbara Stout, Helene and Ken Walker, Kendall and Alyse Tenney, Tom Warden and Melissa and Clark Warren. Cocktails were served and hors d'oeuvres by Mon Ami Gabi and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba were provided. Guests listened to music by Stomp Out Loud while participating in a silent auction during the reception.

Hawaiian group Hot Lava entertained as the black-tie guests entered the star-decorated dining room. Various dinner courses were prepared by Trader Vic's, Louis's Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and The Venetian and Palazzo. Kendall Tenney of KVBC-TV, Channel 3, and chairman of the Make-A-Wish Board, served as master of ceremonies. Dinner entertainment was provided by Clint Holmes and Jimmy Hopper.

Robin Leach was joined by 7-year-old Christopher Varkarotas in auctioning off a Fantasy Weekend by Fantasy Car Share and Planet Weekend that sold for $10,000. An oil acrylic on canvas painted by Tabetha Morgan, 17, in collaboration with local artist Cindy Curtis, went for $3,500.

Las Vegas' first lady Carolyn Goodman introduced her friend of 24 years, Linda Richardson, and read a proclamation from her husband, Mayor Oscar Goodman, declaring May 18 as Linda Richardson Day.

Gibbons joined Armeni, who, on behalf of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation, presented Make-A-Wish Executive Director and President Karen Iglesias with a $25,000 check. Richardson gave Make-A-Wish a check from her family for $200,000.

Seen among the 500 guests were Linda Smith, Scott Fleischer, Rebecca Bradner, Stephanie Lasure, Doug Elfman, Blue Ash, Ed Kadlecek, Cary Harned, Marie Mundy, Leslie Mack, Jennifer Bradley, Paige Candee, Chris Nolan and Christine Narciso, Shannon and Barry Becker, and Tricia and Scott Weber.

SPRING SOIREE: Board trustees of the Nevada School of the Arts presented their Spring Soiree at the Spanish Trail Country Club on Friday . Trustees and guests enjoyed a hors d'oeuvres and wine reception in the Sunrise Room overlooking the golf course.

Guests attending were Phyllis and Hugh Roberts, Bernice Fischer, Toni Carpenter and Bud Pattengale, Victor Onufrieff, Celia Krom, Matthew McRae, Karen Kutish, Linda Parker, Julie Sweigart and Tara Sweigart, Celia Dobbin, Nelly Segal, Evelyn Rezza, Doug Warden, Betsy Weller, Sondra Lynch and Paul Hesselink.

A recital, featuring Nevada School of the Arts second-grader Victoria Young playing two piano pieces, folllowed. Caitlin Stokes, a sophomore, played the violin with piano accompaniment by faculty member Albina Asryan. The "Hungarian Rhapsody, Op. 68" was played by senior student Columban Heo on the cello, with piano accompaniment by faculty member Barbara Riske Violinists Alex Gonzalez and Tena Shizuma, cellist Chris Kiriscioglu and Omar Shelly on the viola entertained with Claude Debussy's "Quartet No. 1, Op. 10." Pianist Brandon Kiss, a ninth-grader, played Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66." A "Concerto for Three Violins in F Major" was performed by violinists Alex Gonzalez, Tena Shizuma, Roxanne Hidalgo, Sidney Tolman and Ryan Patton.

Board Chairwoman Laurel J. Andrew spoke about the new home for Nevada School of the Arts to open this summer at 401 S. Fourth St.

The evening concluded with dessert and coffee, including the school's dean Shakeh Ghoukasian and trustees Michael Mejza, Frances Fine, Anne Gumroyan, Bev Patton, Jason Staub and Mary Straub, Linda Ley Wilcox and Hal Weller.