Men We Love benefit helps Nevada Cancer Institute

Saks Fifth Avenue presented its annual Vegas Dozen 2008: Men We Love and Why We Love Them on April 2. The event benefited the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Mari Landers, general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue Las Vegas, thanked the capacity crowd for attending the cocktail presentation in Saks at the Fashion Show mall.

Heather Murren, founder and chief executive officer of the Nevada Cancer Institute, spoke about the cutting edge innovations and expansion of the local facility.

Mistress of ceremonies was Phyllis McGuire.

The honorees took a turn at the podium to make personal remarks and to model the latest in menswear available at Saks.

Leading off the Vegas Dozen was Bernie Yuman of Bernie Yuman Management. Next was Perry Rogers, president of PRISM, Premier Integrated Sports Management; Richard Wright of Wright, Stanish & Winckler law firm; Michael E. Minden, president of Michael E. Minden Diamond Jewelers; Tim Cashman of Las Vegas Harley-Davidson; Richard Plaster, president of Signature Homes; John Schadler, managing partner, SK+G advertising; Bruce Deifik, president and chief executive officer, American Nevada Co.; Kendall Tenney, news anchor, KVBC-TV Channel 3; and Andre Agassi, retired tennis champion and founder of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

Annual gala: Temple Beth Sholom honored Stuart and Flora Mason at its annual gala Sunday at the Four Seasons. The Masons have been active members of Temple Beth Sholom in both leadership and financial positions since moving to Las Vegas in 1964. Flora was the first woman elected to the temple's board of directors.

In their professional lives, Stuart was an executive and manager of Taylor Construction International for 37 years and involved in building Las Vegas resorts Caesars Palace and Bally's, among others. For the past 10 years, Stuart has served as executive vice president of development for Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Flora is a retired English literature professor from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Chairing the gala were Abbie Friedman, Ruth Goldfarb, Sara Price Mason and William Mason, Sandy and Stan Mallin, Lynn and Arne Rosencrantz, and Betsi and David Steinberg.

The evening began with a reception and silent auction for 300 guests including Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Lawrence Lehrner, former Sen. Richard Bryan and Bonnie Bryan, Supreme Court Justice Michael Cherry with Sheryl Kogan, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Gibbons and Sandy Gibbons, District Judge Jackie Glass, Councilman Steve Wolfson, Washoe County Family Court Judge Deborah Schumacher, Liz Goodman and Rabbi Felipe Goodman.

Other guests were Susan Molasky, Jeanne Greenawalt and Irwin Kishner, Arlene and Jerry Blut, Naomi and Art Sloan, Charlene and Tony Carter, Susan Fine and Max Spilka, Mel Wolzinger, Erin and Noah Kohn, Jane Radoff, Denise Gentile and Bob Dickerson, Jenny DesVaux Oakes, Shirley Biegger, Diane and Harry Brandise, Phyllis Schwartz, Bonnie Saunders, James Fiala, Tony Dicosola, Sheldon Schore, Vivica Marshall, and Jason Friedman.

Masters of ceremonies were Gene Greenberg and Arne Greenberg. Cantor Daniel Friedman conducted the live auction for nine packages, raising $42,500.

Sleepless in Seattle: The sustainers of the Junior League of Las Vegas flew to Seattle on April 3 for a three-day excursion of touring, shopping and dining. Home base was the Hotel 1000 in downtown Seattle.

Prearranged tours took the group to Everett, Wash., to visit Boeing's Flight Aviation Center and walk through its commercial jet assembly plant. Upon returning to Seattle, the group took a city tour that included the University of Washington campus. On Friday, the group took a personalized tour of glass wizard Dale Chihuly's private studio. Following lunch, the group traveled 70 miles north of Seattle to Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

The last day was spent in downtown Seattle visiting Pioneer Square, the aquarium, and the famous Pike Place Market to view the fresh produce, seafood, arts and crafts. Across the street the group watched cheese being made at Beecher's and just up the street was Nordstrom's flagship store.

Participants included Bonnie Bryan, Lois Zellers, Caty Crocket, Cheryl Purdue, Nancy Heberlee, Nancy Peccole, Karen Rice, Jan Nitz, Lou Schwager, Patsy Brinton, Carolyn Sparks, Nancy Gasho, Susan Maddox, Shelli Lowe, Susan Ostanik, Linda Givens, Carol Harrison, Alice Fessenden, Sally Rycroft, Gloria Colvin, Carolyn Bier, Sherry Colquitt, Carole Terry, Sharon Carelli, Dedee Nave and Linda Silvestri.