‘Diamonds Are Forever’ gala held at Caesars

The Caesars Foundation was honored during the annual "Diamonds Are Forever" gala presented by the Las Vegas Philharmonic Jan. 18 at Caesars Palace.

Janet Beronio, chair of the foundation, represented the organization at the event.

Chairing the gala were Jeri Crawford, Patricia Pieper Fink, Ellie Hirschfeld and Dorothy Flagler.

Music by members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic was presented during the reception.

The elaborate silent auction attracted guests, including Diane Carlson and William Freyd, Barbara Barron, Fafie and Jeff Moore, Meredith and Craig Johnson, Diane and Ken Merkey, Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Christine Petersen, Annee Nounna, Sandy Peltyn, Pia Zadora and the Philharmonic's Guild President Harriet Hayward.

The gala's decor and dinner were themed as "A Night in Vienna." As the ballroom doors opened, guests were greeted by the "Viennese Waltz." On the ballroom's perimeter were tall pedestals featuring models wearing couture ensembles from Saks Fifth Avenue as well as jewelry from the gala's presenting sponsor, Graff Diamonds.

Before dinner, music was provided by two Young Artists' Concerto Competition winners: Emily Richardson, 12, on violin and Artem Aleksanyan, 17, on piano .

Among the guests enjoying the gourmet fare were Jewel Brooks and grandson, Brooks Cook, Patricia and Richard Wright, Ann and Bruce Evans, Jack Libby, Mari and Thom Landers, Prisca and David Crawford, Donna and Michael Levy, Marybel Batjer, Wendy and Richard Plaster, Karen and Morgan Cashman, Lynn and Tony Madonia, Shakeh Ghoukasian, Lou Fink, Kari and Jonathan Halkyard, Alisa Nave-Worth and Juliana and Matthew McRae.

Master of ceremonies was Jason Feinberg, KVVU-TV, Channel 5 news anchor. A special guest was Karen Proidi, consul general of Austria, Austrian consulate general, Los Angeles.

Christian Kolberg conducted the live auction. A bichon frise puppy sold for $3,300; a 15-day Viking River Cruise went for $8,000; a five-course dinner at Spago for six sold for $1,750; a getaway on American Airlines to France for five nights for two sold twice for a bid of $9,000 each; and a getaway for two on American Airlines for a seven-night stay at the Villa Serbelloni on Lake Como in Italy sold for $7,000.

Other items auctioned included five nights for eight guests at the Montana Sporting Club, which raised $3,000; seven nights for two at the Ritz-Carlton in Germany and Australia won for $8,000; VIP tickets for four for the "Hot in Cleveland" television show taped in Los Angeles raised $2,500; and a one-week stay for two at the Caribbean Club, Grand Cayman Island, with air by American Airlines, went for the high bid of $3,400.