Junior League gala fetes women dedicated to community
The Junior League of Las Vegas held its ninth annual Paint the Town Red Gala on March 31 at the Four Seasons. The event honored two women who have made a visible difference in our community: Madeleine Andress, a longtime Junior League member, astute businesswoman and philanthropist, and Punam Mathur, a motivational speaker, business executive, board member and former chairwoman of Three Square, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in Southern Nevada.
The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Guests included former Sen. Richard Bryan and Bonnie Bryan, Karla and Chet Cox, Sheryl and Rob Goldstein, Sonja and Michael Saltman, Vivi Marshall, Mary Louise Sloan, Heidi and Larry Canarelli, Janice Allen, Charlotte and Wally Beseduan, Susan Graves, Suzanne and Mark VanAken, Daphne and Don Campbell, Ann and Bruce Evans, Robyn and Randolph Townsend, Jan and Owen Nitz, Shellie Lowe and George Wara, Lore and Wade Gochnour, Britta and Steve Carlson, Lisa and Brian McAnallen, Donna and Gail Andress, Nancy Houssels, Judy Beal, Dede and Sheryl Slakey, and Sherry and Richard Colquitt.
Before dinner, Arthur Murray dancers presented "Dancing in the Desert," fashioned after the TV Show "Dancing with the Stars." Featured were Laura Schmitt, Junior League president; Melinda McGeorge Johnson, sustainers president; and Calvert Collins, Junior League vice president and KLAS-TV, Channel 8 news reporter. They rehearsed for weeks with Arthur Murray professionals for their dance competition. Guests made monetary votes to select the winner, who was Melinda McGeorge Johnson.
Nancy Gasho-Fromm offered the Champagne toast. Melanie Tobiasson introduced her mother, Madeleine Andress, recipient of the Lifetime Community Achievement Award. Julie Murray introduced Punam Mathur, the recipient of the Florence Lee Jones Humanitarian Award.
Among the 350 guests attending were Beverly and Peter O'Connor, Margy and Carl Johnson, Kim Stein, Mariam and Roch Afashai, Linda Givens, Wendy and Richard Plaster, Dedee Nave, Maryann Rivera, Deni and Steve Conrad, Martha Carter, Sally and Gordon Rycroft, Carole and Norman Terry, Lynn Buchanan, Caty Crockett, Sharon and Tom Beatty, Lynda and Richard Wohletz, Amy Ayoub, Lou and Fred Schwager, Karen Johnston, Donna and Mike Levy, Nancy Heberlee, Karen Powell, Sandy and Rex Windom, Sally McKinney, Brian Burton, Lois Zellers, Carolyn Sparks, Debra Wommer, Patsy Brinton, Sharon Schmitt, Saundra Richardson, and Mel Garraway.
