Women’s Philanthropy Council luncheon draws 300

The Women's Philanthropy Council of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas presented its 2010 United Luncheon for 300 guests on Feb. 4 at Wynn Las Vegas' Latour Ballroom. The event supports the Jewish community in Las Vegas, in Israel and wherever Jewish people are in need around the world.

The event began with cocktails and canapes during the late-morning reception. The extensive silent auction of more than 90 items offered designer handbags, jewelry, restaurant meals and show tickets, furs and designer clothes and shoes for participants Faye Steinberg, Elaine Galatz, Lovee Arum, Jane Schorr, Illisa Polis, Sonja Saltman, Flora Mason, Victoria Otter, Janellen Radoff, Denise Cashman, Ruth Goldfarb, Lynn Rosencrantz, Sue Lowden, and Phyllis Lewis.

The luncheon co-chairs were Ellen Schaner and Judy Stone. Kim Hart served as luncheon committee coordinator, and Leora Blau and Lisa Henry were luncheon mitzvah co-chairs.

Women's Philanthropy Chairwoman Janis Rounds spoke about the services the group is providing nationwide. During lunch, fashions from the Wynn and Encore Esplanade Shops were modeled by community leaders with Mayor Oscar Goodman the first model to walk the runway, clad in Vilebrequin swim trunks, hoodie and towel. He was followed by models Ira Green, Kim Hart, Bree Goldwater, Fran Fine-Ventura, Bernice Friedman, Dawn Mack, Sharon Strasser, Danny Greenspun, Dana Sporn, Marla Letizia, Barbara Silverberg, Juanita Wasserman, Janis Rounds, Lieuchi Fine, Nancy Deifik, Robin Greenspun, Lisa Beinstock, Courtney Schorr, Mike Snedegar, Kate Bennett, Suzanne Handler and Shevy Shalev.

The featured speaker was actress/writer Fran Drescher. Drescher, wearing a half-million dollars of jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, spoke about her early career before her signature role of Fran Fine in the television show "The Nanny," and her more recent experience with uterine cancer, about which she wrote a best-seller book titled "Cancer Schmancer." She recently released her memoirs, "Enter Whining."

More guests who enjoyed the afternoon were Edythe Katz-Yarchever and Gilbert Yarchever, Georgette Cohen, Helen Edell, Debbie Levy, Leonard Stone, Sybil Greebnerg, Rita Schaner, Morris Schaner, Debbie Aharoni, Drew Rounds, Heidi Sarno Strauss, Sondra Lynch, Joan Davis, Jason Goldwater, Erik Kabik and Elliot B. Karp, president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas board of directors.

Winning the vintage Alhambra necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelers was Fran Fine-Ventura.