DeBartolo Family Foundation
15th All Star Charity Gala
San Francisco 49er legend Jerry Rice asked Latisha Pelayo to marry him; Cleveland Brown icon Jim Brown sat across from founding member of the Supremes Mary Wilson and 70 other actors, athletes and assorted celebs made a formal fundraiser feel like a family reunion hosted by Eddie, Candy, Lisa and Nikki DeBartolo on Saturday at the family foundation's 15th All Star Charity Gala. Paul Anka, Joey Fatone and Chef Tyler Florence to a handsome huddle of football players - everybody's treated like family dining on 24 oz. ribeye steaks and Eddie V's guava budino dessert. Auctioneer Billy Harris elicited mega bids for five vacations, including 500-ticket bash stay in Tampa, said Lisa, for scholarships, teacher supplies and grants to local grass roots non-profits.
Waves of Change luncheon
Helen Gordon Davis would have been thrilled to see 580 professional women, especially leadership honorees Joy Mangano and Clemmie Perry at the annual Waves of Change benefit for the Centre for Women that honors her name and legacy.
Perry founded Women of Color Golf to influence diversity inclusion in the 100 million in sales.
"Product is king, and everything is a product... you, your children," said Mangano, adding the bio-film Joy starring Jennifer Lawrence "barely touched on all the obstacles" and Broadway musical Unexpected Joy should inspire and entertain. "Nothing gives me more pleasure than making someone's life better," she said.
Executive director Ann Madsen announced the Centre's newly formed League of Extraordinary Women, led by Karen Mertes, already has 20 members committed to donating $1,000 a year for three years.
GIFF /TB Jewish Film Festival
Combining calendars appeared to work out well for the Gasparilla International Film Festival and the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival to offer 150 films March 20 to 25. Moviegoers, actors and industry pros had multiple opportunities to network and party. Among the highlights: GIFF's kick-off at the Vault; Q-&-A by Frank Robertson with "Stuck" producer Mike Witherill at Tampa Theatre; and 1,500 rabid fans hanging in Ybor City with Best F(r)iends stars Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero.
TBJFF sold out two theaters for Bombshell, the Hedy Lamarr Story and dished Chinese cuisine before screening Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas. Sunday's wrap party at Union Station got no Rotten Tomatoes. It was the first public event to be staged there since the city awarded the contract to Good Food Catering. Expect many sequels to come.
---------------