Olympic swimmer speaks at Go Red fundraiser

Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Dana Vollmer was the keynote speaker during the 10th anniversary Go Red Luncheon on Feb. 22 to raise funds for the American Heart Association.

The Champagne Ballroom at Paris Las Vegas was filled with nearly 500 guests who arrived at 10:30 a.m. to bid on the silent auction’s 45 exclusive packages.

Seen among the guests were Congresswoman Dina Titus, Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton-Holmes, Karen Cashman, Jennifer Robert, Linda Buller, Kendall Davis, former Sen. Richard Bryan, Paula Browne, Doreen Spears Hartwell, Amanda Hawkins, Melanie Schaeffer, Fran Inman, Jennifer Bradley, Beverly Dix, Michelle Shank, and Sharry and Tim Quillin.

Former tennis star and gold medalist Steffi Graf introduced Vollmer, who, when she was younger, had a heart condition that has since stopped showing symptoms. Vollmer is an ambassador for the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women movement that has raised more than $300 million to fight heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.

Patti Hart, the 2013 executive leadership committee chairwoman and CEO of International Game Technology, thanked national sponsors Macy’s, for raising $40 million to fight heart disease, Merck and International Game Technology. Hart also introduced Go Red’s 2014 chairwoman-elect Ellen Whittemore.

Supporting neonatal care: St. Rose Dominican Hospitals’ 56th annual Mardis Gras Ball took place Feb. 23 at The Mirage. This year’s event raised money to expand the neonatal intensive care unit.

The theme was retro and Harbor Lights provided music of the ’60s and ’70s for dancing, and Deniece Williams also entertained.

Beth Fisher of KNTV-TV, Channel 13, and St. Rose Dominican Health Foundation President Charles Guida served as the event’s mistress and master of ceremonies. Ellie Smith, Miss Nevada Teen, sang “Think of Me.”

Christian Kolberg, assisted by John O’Reilly, conducted a live auction including four box seats for a San Francisco Giants baseball game, meeting the 2012 World Series champions, and dinner at Momo’s that went for $5,500. A dinner for 20 guests prepared by chef Todd Clore at Blue Heron’s newest custom home sold twice for the highest bid of $25,000 each.

Enjoying the evening were Tina and Calvin Tyler, Dee and Ken Ladd, Mary Kaye Cashman, Florence and Gard Jameson, Vernita and Harry Mays, Cliff Hanssen , Carol Rose, Geraldine Williams, Linzel and Daniel McBride, Jay Barrett, Laura Hoenemeyer, Barbara Davis, Selma Bartlett, Rosemary Hyun, Ken Misch, Nicole and Tommy Isola, Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen and Rod Davis, president and CEO of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.