Several honored with awards at tennis foundation event

It was an intimate evening with singer Tony Bennett and friends at Tao at The Venetian to benefit Las Vegas' Marty Hennessy Junior Tennis Foundation on Sept. 24.

The foundation programs support more than 500 children per year, and the foundation has awarded college tennis scholarships to 19 children.

Hennessy was joined by Hilliary Heard, the foundation's executive director, and Ryan Wolfington and Mike Agassi of the foundation's advisory board, as they welcomed Bennett and his wife, Susan Benbitto.

Among the guests were Sheryl and Rob Goldstein, Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony, Saralee and Terry Kroll, Elizabeth Muto, Nate Hunterson, Lily Chu, Jason Straus, Neil Tomlinson, Monya Richardson, Dorothy Martin, Sylvia Jacobs, Rick Coleman, Nicole Schulman, Annette Schaffer, Kelly Clinton, Rudy Ruettiger, Leigh Zimmerman, Martin Bergman, Bob Schulman, and wife, Winnie Schulman, the event's chairwoman.

Dinner with a live auction was conducted by Christian Kolberg for 12 packages, with a high bid of $18,000 for a Harry Winston watch.

The Tony Bennett Heart Award winners were Rashae and Jeffrey Taylor. The Tony Bennett Media Excellence Award was Micheal Flaherty, founder and president of Walden Media. The Mike Agassi No Quit Award went to Sandy White and the Rudy Award winner was Edgardo Ureta.

Entertainment was provided by Clint Holmes, Rita Rudner, Domenick Allen, Ellie Smith, Primrose Martin, Mosaic, and Bennett's daughter Antonia Bennett.

HALL OF FAME: The University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame presented its 2009 inductees, honored for their significant impact on the visual and performing arts and architecture, at a ceremony at Artemus Ham Hall on Sept. 25.

Master of ceremonies Casey Smith of KTNV-TV, Channel 13, introduced UNLV President Neal Smatresk; Jeffrey Koep, dean of the College of Fine Arts; and Corinne Entratter Sidney, wife of the late George Sidney.

Honorees were presented with The Sidney, named for the hall of fame's first inductee, George Sidney, an Oscar-winning director.

The 2009 inductees were: Bernice Fischer, philanthropist and contributor to the arts; Lorraine Hunt-Bono, former Nevada lieutenant governor and entertainer; the late Liberace, legendary pianist and showman; William E. Snyder, award-winning Las Vegas architect; and Siegfried & Roy, world-renowned magicians who defined Las Vegas.

The evening also honored three UNLV fine arts students with a George Sidney Scholarship.

A VIP reception followed in the UNLV Foundation Building.