Roy Horn, from left, Janie Gale and Siegfried Fischbacher greet arriving guests to the Nevada Cancer Institute benefit April 6 at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Fashion Show mall. Photos by Marian Umhoefer. Susan Fine, from left, Elaine Newton, Susan Molasky and Elaine Wynn visit during the Nevada Cancer Institute party. Garry Goett, standing from left, James Hammer, Roy Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher and, seated from left, Somer Hollingsworth and Tom Breitling make up half of the Vegas Dozen 2006: The Men We Love and Why We Love Them honorees at the party at Saks. John Martinez, from left, Larry Chumley, Frank Insera, Scott Sherrell and Steven Buffone arrive at the Rio Saturday for the 15th annual Chefs For Kids dinner and auction. Master Chef Gustav Mauler, from left, Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas, and Denise Mauler attend the Chefs For Kids benefit Saturday at the Rio.

Saks Fifth Avenue in the Fashion Show mall celebrated its Vegas Dozen 2006: The Men We Love and Why We Love Them at a posh reception April 6 in the store to benefit the Nevada Cancer Institute.

The third annual Vegas Dozen Award recognizes men from various backgrounds and professions who exemplify personal and professional commitment.

Guests socialized on the store's second floor where Wild Truffles caterers set up cooking stations offering an extensive buffet.

Mari Landers, vice president and general manager of Saks, introduced Shelley Gitomer, vice president for development for Nevada Cancer Institute, to talk about the progress the institute has achieved.

Comedian Rita Rudner opened the award ceremony with a comical routine on shopping.

Entertainer Phyllis McGuire served as mistress of ceremonies and presented awards to: Tom Breitling, president and chief executive officer, Breitling Ventures; Garry Goett, president, Olympia Land Group; Danny Greenspun, chairman, Greenspun Media Group; James Hammer, president, Westar; Somer Hollingsworth, president and chief executive officer, Nevada Development Authority; Ed Quirk of Greenberg Traurig law firm; Frank Schreck of Schreck Brignone law firm; Don Snyder, chairman of the board, Smith Center of the Performing Arts; Terry Wright, chairman of the board, Nevada Title Co.; Steve Wynn, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Wynn Las Vegas; and entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn.

The honorees' wardrobe was provided by Armani, Boss/Hugo Boss, Canali and Ermenegildo Zegna.

Inaugural event: Author Toni Morrison was the guest of honor and keynote speaker as the new Black Mountain Institute had its first fundraising dinner April 6 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The institute will be based at UNLV and contain two centers: the Forum on Contemporary Cultures and the North American Network of Cities of Asylum.

More than 160 guests attended the gala dinner where UNLV President Carol Harter, who will head up the Black Mountain Institute after she leaves the presidency this summer, welcomed Morrison and other world-renowned authors including Russell Banks, Wole Soyinka, Michael Ondaatje, Caryl "Caz" Phillips, and UNLV's Richard Wiley, David Hickey and Douglas Unger.

The dinner menu was created by Harter's special events manager, Tori Klein, and her husband, executive chef Eric Klein of SW. Wines were paired for each course by SW sommelier Patrick Pretz and donated by DeLuca Liquors.

Among the guests were Chancellor Jim Rogers and Beverly Rogers, Nancy and Kell Houssels, Carolyn Sparks, Rose McKinney-James, Bernice Fisher, Kay White, Mary Ann Kummer, Paula Francis, Lynn Wiesner, C.J. and Jim Bradham, Jeanne Greenawalt and Irwin Kishner.

Other guests included UNLV vice presidents Rebecca Mills and Juanita Fain, Provost Ray Alden, university Regents Linda Howard and James Dean Leavitt, County Manager Thom Reilly and former state Sen. Joe Neal.

Following dinner, guests were escorted to Artemus Ham Hall for the talk by Morrison, winner of the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes, which was attended by nearly 1,500.

Promoting nutrition: Chefs For Kids had its 15th annual dinner and auction Saturday at the Rio.

The program is a cooperative venture of the American Culinary Federation Chefs of Las Vegas and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension working to eliminate malnutrition and hunger through education and awareness.

A gourmet dinner created by Rio executive chef Pete Ghione and Rio executive banquet chef Adam Brown was served to 624 guests.

Master of ceremonies was KLAS-TV, Channel 8, news anchor Dave Courvoisier. Speakers included Buzz Thurber, president of Chefs For Kids; chef Kitty Sanderson, dinner chair; and Mike Howell, southern director of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

The dinner's honorary chair, former Sen. Richard Bryan, and Bonnie Bryan introduced me as the event's honoree for my work with the group.

Auctioneer Christian Kolberg conducted a live auction for 17 dinner packages prepared by the city's leading chefs that raised $100,100.