Discovery Children’s Museum honors three at gala

The Discovery Children's Museum's 30th annual Fantasy Gala honored Robin Greenspun, Jan Jones Blackhurst and Barbara Molasky with its Great Friend to Kids Award.

About 700 guests attended the recent event at The Mirage, a benefit for the soon-to-open 58,000-square-foot museum at the Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center adjacent to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

The three talented and generous honorees chaired the first Fantasy Gala three decades ago.

Greenspun has seen the museum grow from an idea in 1981 to reality, and served as the founding president of the Lied Discovery Children's Museum.

Jones Blackhurst served two terms as mayor of Las Vegas and continues to stay active in the community while serving as senior vice president of communications and government relations for Caesars Entertainment Corp.

Molasky is an arts advocate who has been involved in local fundraising and revitalizing downtown Las Vegas. She is a founding member and president of the Neon Museum board.

Many fundraising activities took place throughout the evening, including a live auction conducted by auctioneer Randy Parnell for eight packages that raised $41,000.

Many of the guests donned costumes depicting the gala's theme of "Journey to the Future."

Event chairman was Annemarie Jones, while Madeline Benito-Banaszak chaired the auction.

Seen participating in the extensive silent auction were Mike Sloan, Gae and Perry Basch, Myron Martin, Dedee Nave, County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, Whitney and Larry duBoef, Denise Cashman, Tiffany Tiberti, Tarissa Lacey, Victor Onufrieff and Laurel Andrew, Gloria and Mark Fine, Annemarie and Fletcher Jones, Alisa Nave Worth, and Maria and Ted Quirk.

Guests including Mayor Carolyn Goodman, David Goldwater, Tiffany White, Marilyn Dondero Loop, Linda and Tony Bonnici, Candy and Mike Schneider, Marybel Batjer, and Dee and Don Snyder entered the dining room as the band played "The Imperial March" from the movie "Star Wars."

Master of ceremonies Shauna Khorrami and Cale Ramaker of KLAS-TV, Channel 8, introduced Fantasy Gala's co-chairwomen Judy Cebulko and Carrie Henderson.

Speakers Linda Quinn, Discovery Children's Museum CEO, and Mike Mathis, museum board of trustees president, said the new facility will open in February.

Also seen among the guests were Steve Stevens, Susan Houston, Jan Craddock, Joan Lapan, Denyce Tuller, Cindi Reed, Melinda Sheckells and Shari Wong.