Great Gatsby Gala supports children’s charity

The second annual Great Gatsby Gala took place Sept. 29 at the LVH to benefit the Nevada Children's Center, which has operated in Las Vegas since 1991. The center is dedicated to helping neglected, behaviorally challenged children.

Guests in attendance were Lynne Sloane, Pat and Herman van Betten, Dee and Ken Ladd, Dema Guinn, Shirley Blair, Libby Bjerke, Sandy Litton and John Foley, Noreen and Jim Pico, Nancy Heberlee, Eleonore and Edward Doumani, Julie Murray, Debbie and Neal Smatresk, Vera Goulet, Ruth and Jack Lillis, Annee Nounna, Maria and Ted Quirk, Sandy Peltyn and Terri and Tom Eden.

The reception offered a silent auction by Dee Ladd and a photo op with a 1931 red roadster.

The honorary dinner chairs were Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and former Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Event chair was board President Carolyn Sparks and co-chairs were Diana Bennett and Nancy Houssels. Mistress of ceremonies Paula Francis, KLAS-TV, Channel 8 news anchor, announced the presentation of the colors by the UNLV Air Force and Army ROTC. Golden Globe Award winner Pia Zadora sang the national anthem, followed by the Rev. Fred Paulo's invocation.

Gayle Anderson, Nevada's chief of protocol and diplomat relations, introduced Lena Walther, honorary consul of Sweden; Astra Mickels, honorary consul of Lithuania; and Jerome Snyder, honorary consul of the United Kingdom.

Nevada Children's Center's Executive Director Beschelle Lockhart presented the corporate Donor of the Year Award to MGM Resorts Foundation, with Ubiquita the recipient of the Gifts In-kind Donor of the Year Award.

Auctioneer Christian Kolberg was assisted by John O'Reilly in raising funds in the live auction.

Other guests were Josie Snow, Kim Duckworth, Pami Lange, David Rengel, Anne Welsh, Stephanie Maddocks, Cindy and Mark Fox, Michelle Word, Mikey Bilbray, Shannon Axelrod, Denny Weddle, Tricia and Scott Webber, Toni Hart, Larry Hart, Teri Brown, Susan Houston, Sandra Frank and Judy Middleton.

The gala's underwriters were the Houssels Family Foundation and Paragon Gaming.

Day of German Unity: Usually celebrated on Oct. 4, this year's event at the Westin Las Vegas was moved to September to accommodate a larger crowd arriving from Germany and Southern California.

Presiding over the event was Andreas R. Adrian, honorary consul of Germany.

The evening's highlight was the entertainment provided by one of Germany's most celebrated choirs, the BASF & MGV Hermersberg choir. The choir made up of 35 men flew into Las Vegas on Condor Airlines.

Guests also viewed a photo exhibit about the events leading up to the reunification of Germany, thus creating the Day of German Unity.

Westin chef Michel Rey served a grand German dinner for the 300 guests.