Governor’s gala honors Philanthropist of the Year

The Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Rob Goldstein received the Governor’s Philanthropist of the Year Award April 9 during the 15th annual Governor’s Black-Tie Golf Invitational sponsored by Southern Highlands Charitable Foundation.

The three-day event included a golf tournament, the Black-Tie Gala, the Governor’s Grand Bash with dinner and a private concert by Dierks Bentley, and a Ladies Luncheon at Spa Southern Highlands with a fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue followed by the tournament awards presentation.

The festivities opened with the Governor’s Black-Tie Gala at Southern Highlands Country Club. Gov. Brian Sandoval presented the Philanthropist of the Year Award. Goldstein is president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands and an advocate of a new corporate citizenship program called Sands Cares.

Goldstein oversees all of Las Vegas Sands’ philanthropic efforts, and he gives back personally as a member of the board of directors for Opportunity Village, the Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.

The gala, a major social event annually, began in the private Southern Highlands Clubhouse. Guests included former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Bonnie Bryan, Beverly and Michael Bolognini, Judy Cebulko, Darlene and Cliff Miller, Don Ross, Heidi and Larry Canarelli, John Wolfe, Barbara Lee Woollen and Bruce Woollen, Dana and Paul Wiesner, Jeri and Rick Crawford, Karen and Morgan Cashman, Dawn Gibbons, Amy and Roger Tabor, and Dee and George Mehocic.

During the reception, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on silent auction items.

Bagpipers led the guests into a large white tent on the golf course. The tent was elegantly decorated with crystal chandeliers and the dining tables were covered in silver satin with centerpieces of cream and blush roses.

Entertainment was the four violinists of Bella Strings.

The gourmet dinner was beautifully prepared and presented by chefs Michael Goodman and Jean-Luc Daul, and the selected wines were donated by Southern Wine &Spirits.

Master of ceremonies Jack Sheehan introduced Garry Goett, founder and president of the Southern Highlands Charitable Foundation and event chairman. He thanked all of the Governor’s Club sponsors.

The foundation has donated more than $15 million to local charities benefiting children, teens and women.

The charities are the Boys &Girls Club of Southern Highlands, Children’s Heart Foundation, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Assistance League’s Operation School Bell, Opportunity Village, Candlelighters, Discovery Children’s Museum and Andson-Empowering Through Education.

A live auction by Christian Kolberg featured 11 over-the-top packages, such as a 2015 Land Rover. The auction raised more than $206,000.

Seen enjoying the evening were Sheryl Goldstein, Fafie Moore, Ashley and Michael Flanagan, Laura and Lee Bachlet, Debbie and Nat Hodgson, Sathuma and Delip Parikh, Elaina Bhattacharyya and Ashan Perera, Melissa and Ethan Cartwright, Donna Ruthe, Darilyne Goett, Melinda and Bob Brown, Annee Nounna, Kim and Joel Laub, Joyce Sherman, Jim Nelson, Sonia Anderson and Paul Hamilton.