Henrietta Coleman, from left, Diane Mason, Saralee Kroll, Barbara Lovell, Robert Holgate and Toni Hart gather at the MGM Grand Conference Center for the Choice Humanitarian gala. Photos By Marian Umhoefer. Gay Greenback, clockwise from right, Audrey Holmes, Betsy Weller and Hal Weller attend the Choice Humanitarian gala. Choice Humanitarian Las Vegas advisory council member Susie Perrine, left, and program development member Angie Wallin greet arriving guests to the organization's first major gala Saturday at the MGM Grand Conference Center. Sculptor Benjamin Victor, left, and Mayor Oscar Goodman unveil the 3-foot statue of Sarah Winnemucca. Opera singer Ben Litvinoff, right, sings the national anthem as Leroy Spotted Eagle, from left, Mayor Oscar Goodman, sculptor Benjamin Victor, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Joan LeMere of the Nevada Women's History Project look on. The event marked the arrival of a sculpture of Sarah Winnemucca that will be displayed in City Hall. Andy Blumen, from left, Mayor Oscar Goodman, Janet Blumen, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Gov. Kenny Guinn and Joanne Blystone greet Citizens of Distinction honorees during the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow luncheon Friday at the Stardust. Andy Blumen, from left, Joanne Blystone and Janet Blumen chat with guest speaker J.C. Watts during the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow luncheon. Jackie Ingram, from left, Willie J. Pipes, Allan Carter, Scott Roeben and Lisa Habighorst attend the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow luncheon.

The new local charity Choice Humanitarian honored entertainer Clint Holmes as Humanitarian of Choice at its first major gala Saturday at the MGM Grand Conference Center.

About 300 guests attended the party that recognized Holmes for his support of charitable organizations in Southern Nevada. He was presented the crystal award by fellow entertainers Frankie and Chrissi Scinta. Holmes' mother, Audrey, and sister, Gail, were on hand for the ceremony.

Choice Humanitarian fights poverty in many countries by providing simple technologies and self-help initiatives and raising public awareness. The local affiliate also is involved in educational outreach in the valley. Proceeds from the gala benefited Choice Humanitarian and the Las Vegas Youth Council Tutor and Mentoring Program in the Clark County School District.

Guests entered the ballroom to the beat of African drums accompanying authentic tribal dancing.

Mistress of ceremonies was Kyla Grogran of KLAS-TV, Channel 8. Jerry Lopez and his brother, Lenny, performed flamenco guitar music.

Las Vegan Linda Phillips, a member of Choice Humanitarian's national board, told how the organization participates in hands-on projects around the world as well as her personal experiences of volunteering in a remote Guatemalan village.

Guests included Susie Perrine, Phyllis McGuire, Siegfried Fischbacher, Toni Hart, Gary Hart and Musaka Kinura, Beth and Harold McKeever, Sherry Lombardi and Paul Boisvert, Betsy and Hal Weller, Diane Epstein, Lynette Chappell, Annee Nounna, Alice and Jerry Reeves, Jackie and Dick Donovan, Barbara Lovell and Joe LaVigna.

Christian Kolberg, with assistance from Sandy Peltyn and Vincent DeSimone, conducted a live auction for two playhouses. The first to be auctioned off was a realistic Army quarters called Fort Nevada, built by dinner chairs state Sen. Joe Heck and Lisa Heck, with the help of the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base. It sold for $6,200 and was donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs. A whimsical cottage called The Book Nook, built by Brent Phillips and Brad Sneed of Phillips Homes, sold for $7,000.

Helping to make the evening a big success were Angie Wallin, program coordinator, and daughter, Julie Gilday-Shaffer, advisory council member.

New statue: The dedication of the Nevada Women's History Project's small-scale Sarah Winnemucca statue took place Saturday at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center Theatre.

The group raised $235,000 to commission the Winnemucca statue that was placed last year in National Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. A replica is in the Nevada Capitol in Carson City, and this smaller statue will be displayed inside Las Vegas City Hall.

A Paiute Indian invocation was given by Leroy Spotted Eagle, who also concluded the event with an American Indian blessing.

Nevada Women's History Project President Joan LeMere introduced speakers Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and the statue's sculptor Benjamin Victor.

A reception followed in the Whipple Center's foyer.

Citizens of Distinction Awards: The Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow honored 35 Nevadans from all walks of life for their extraordinary work during its annual luncheon at the Stardust on Friday.

Tina Walsh of "Mamma Mia!" fame performed, and the keynote inspirational speaker was J.C. Watts.

The Review-Journal was the underwriter for the event. The Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow provides support, education, training and resources to people who want to better their lives.

Retirement party: Sigrid Sommer, German honorary consul to Las Vegas, was honored at a reception at the Top of the Riviera March 23. Daniel Villanueva, assistant professor of German at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, emceed the event attended by family, friends and members of Nevada's Consular Corps.

Commemorative presentations and reminiscences were made by guests such as Siegfried and Roy.