Fantasy gala for Lied museum draws hundreds

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum's 28th annual Fantasy Gala was on Oct. 23 at Paris Las Vegas. Guests were invited to don costumes for the event. Gala proceeds will benefit the museum's interactive exhibitions and programs that create learning experiences for children.

Walking the red carpet as the "paparazzi" snapped away were Joyce and Steve Schneider, Victor Onufrieff and Laurel Andrew, David Goldwater, Judy and Morton Skoll, Jean and Brian Fink, Dee and Don Snyder, John Klai, Jon Sparer, Tom Amick, Troy Moser, Todd Lefkowitz, Judy Stokey, Craig Miller, Brad Sher, Jan Craddock, Peter Poggione, Mark Levey, April and Gregg Giuffria, Jennifer Carleton, Michael Mathis, and Mark Failla. Gala co-chairs were board chair Judy Cebulko and Carrie Henderson.

Seen participating in the silent auction were Janet and Steve Linder, Nancy and Kell Houssels, Diane Goodchild, Suzanne Hacket-Morgan and Charles Morgan, Myron Martin, Candy and Mike Schneider, State Sen. Joyce Woodhouse and Assemblywoman Marilyn Dondero Loop.

Dining tables for the 400 guests were covered in brown silk with a silver and rhinestone overlay. Each centerpiece was a five-layer cake that was served for dessert.

Throughout the evening, the Joey Doucette Dancers entertained and music was performed by Harbor Lights. Paula Francis and Gary Waddell of KLAS-TV, Channel 8, emceed the event.

The gala honored the Junior League of Las Vegas with its Great Friend to Kids Award. It was the Junior League that brought the idea of the children's museum to Las Vegas.

Elizabuth Muto presented the award to Lisa Windom-McAnallen, president of Junior League of Las Vegas. Junior League members in attendance were Dedee Nave, Madeleine Andress, Judy Beal, Bonnie Winkleman, Sandra Windom, LuAnn Kutch, Kori Zwaagstra, Gail Northcross, Laura Schmitt, Calvert Collins, Michelle Eckmann, Jennifer Wiley, Christina Miani, Tiffany Howard, Megan Davis, Maryam Stevenson, Tifferney White and Kaytie Lynch.

The Lied Foundation was thanked for its two decades of support in making the museum possible. Special recognition went to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts for their announcement that the Lied Discovery Children's Museum will be moved to an all-new museum with exhibits in Symphony Park in 2012.

Auctioneer Christian Kolberg concluded the evening with a live auction for eight packages, raising more than $38,000. Among the packages were a five-night stay at the Four Seasons in Maui that sold for $5,600 and a Jennifer Main original painting that went for $12,000.