Beach party benefits Nevada Cancer Institute
Joan and Jim Hammer opened their Red Rock Country Club home to host their sixth annual summer beach party benefiting the Nevada Cancer Institute.
This year's setting was an exotic jungle with safari flair, since the party was based on the TV series "Survivor." Party-goers ready for a challenge were Barbara and Lon Kruger, JoAnn and Richard Sturm, Rene and John O'Reilly, Shelly and Tom Burns, Sheriff Doug Gillespie and Louise Gillespie, Lynn and Bill Weidner, Denise and Tim Cashman, Dana and Terry Wright, Jody and Andy Fonfa, Patti Gabel, Dale Wynn, Frank Schreck, Mary Kaye Cashman, Rhonda and Mike Mona, Bunny and Jimmy Newman, Garry Goett, Betty and Frank Bononno, Jill and Jeff Susa and Bill Young.
Guests received a daiquiri and red bandana as they boarded a pink jeep for a ride up Red Rock Mountain to "Hammer's Island," where they landed on a wooden dock lit by tiki torches amid live monkeys and tropical birds. Photos were snapped in a jungle setting with a giant faux elephant and giraffe. The dock was set up for the Tribal Council and Riano's Tribal Band of bongo drums performed as sirloin sliders were being grilled. Guests walked through a tunnel to enter the party.
The Bellagio catered the affair with themed buffets and carving stations set up around the pool, pool house and upper terrace over the tennis court, where all entertainment took place onstage emceed by Jack Sheehan. Among the guests were "Survivor" winners and contestants. A special guest was Ethan Zohn, winner of "Survivor: Africa." Zohn is a cancer survivor and has endured chemotherapy for the past year with support from his girlfriend, Jenna Morasca, winner of "Survivor: The Amazon." Speakers included Zohn, Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, Nevada Cancer Institute founder Heather Murren and Joan and Jim Hammer.
Hammer Island rocked with performances by the Bangles and the Beach Boys featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnson. The party atmosphere was enhanced by jungle scenes playing on screens in Cougar Cove, Lions & Tigers Den and Zebra Lounge. Vibrant flowers, a sandy beach, and bars set up in thick, thatched huts added to the environment. Large graphics of zebras, lions, tigers, gorillas, hippos and butterflies surrounded the pool and waterfall. Event planner Tory L. Cooper said it took 10 days to create Hammer Island and three days for tear down.
More guests were Sue and Barry Becker, Monica Jackson, Wendy and Richard Plaster, Dee and George Mehocic, Bryan O'Reilly, Randy and Danny Becker, Maria and Ted Quirk, Bill Wells, Sonja and Mike Saltman, Melinda and Bob Brown, Shelley Gitomer, Karen and Morgan Cashman, Mark Fine, Larsh Kellogg, Annette Fortuner and Rob Janson, Renee Schaeffer, Terri Peck, Jason Feinberg, Lisa and Tim Herbst, Darlene and Ed Miller, Janie and Barry Moore and Judy and Ed Cebulko.
