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COLOR US FRIENDS THROUGH ALL THE HOLIDAYS |
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COLOR US FRIENDS THROUGH ALL THE HOLIDAYS |
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March brings the changing of seasons and with it the promise of spring and new beginnings. It is a time of bright sun and new colors; a time for the laughter of children; a time for planting the seeds for the year's next bountiful harvest. So it is fitting that it is also the time Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation is laying its plans for its annual COLOR US FRIENDS events to support children's charities in Southern Nevada. This year's theme is COLOR US FRIENDS - THROUGH ALL THE HOLIDAYS. Dee Ladd, CEO of the Foundation explains. "Each year we pick a theme and build on it. We take pride in trying to create different and innovative events. We work very hard to keep them fresh and new, and we want people to have fun." This year's series of events begins on April 10 with the 'Color Us Friends At Our Birthday Party'. The celebration will be held under big top tents in the Boulevard Mall's front parking lot, and you can be sure there will be plenty of cake and ice cream to go around. This year's activities include clowns, crafts, games, face painting, food, and entertainment. For the grown-ups, the Foundation will hold a Luncheon and a Black Tie Gala at the Las Vegas Hilton, April 23 and 24th. This year's Honorary Chairman for both events is renowned children's artist Bob Byerley. Internationally respected, Mr. Byerley is known for his realistic portrayals of children which reflect his own "kinder and gentler" childhood. Byerley's works have been in the past four art auctions, and several of his pieces will be among the art offered at the Black Tie Gala this year. As in past years, Stanton Ho, the Las Vegas Hilton's world famous pastry chef, will prepare special, one-of-a-kind desserts, for both the luncheon and dinner. Dee Ladd tells a story which illustrates the significance of his contribution. "Last year he took a "Freddy the Freeloader" painting done by Red Skelton and copied it in chocolate. It was incredible. It was made of chocolate, but it looked exactly like the painting. Every color, every line was perfect. It was even mounted on a golden frame. It was so amazing that most of us asked for boxes and took it home." Dee Ladd smiles. "I still have mine in the freezer." The 1998 auction was a tribute to Red Skelton. This year the luncheon, which will be held on April 23, will reflect the Color Us Friends Through All the Holidays theme by selecting holiday food recipes from the Foundation's 'From SunRISE to SunSET' cookbook. Gift baskets will be created based on recipes. Both the gift baskets and other gifts donated by local businesses will be raffled at the luncheon. The Black Tie Gala, with its hallmark art auctions, will follow on April 24. Each year the silent auction features gift packages designed around donated "artwork". Ladd explains, "Since we support children, we tried to find a new way to raise funds while keeping with our function. So we came up with the idea of asking dignitaries and celebrities to color and autograph coloring book pages. The pages are then professionally mounted and a gift package designed around the theme. In past years, we did a package completely made up of items related to |
the celebrity such as a complete golf package around President Gerald Ford. The coloring book pages have been so popular that many of the celebrity artists have colored for the Foundation ever year since it was established. Marking their fifth year with the event are President Gerald Ford, Dave Thomas of Wendy's, Lilly Tomlin, and Bob Hope among others. This year some of the celebrity artists will be Dick Clark - New Year's Eve; Naomi Judd - Mother's Day; Louise Crosby - Halloween; Dave Thomas - Thanksgiving; Thomas Kincaid - Christmas. The Gala will also feature a live art auction of work donated by nationally renowned artists including Bob Byerley, Peter Max, Thomas Kincaid and others. Local artists will also be represented including Louise Crosby, who provided all the artwork for the, 'From SunRISE to SunSET' cookbook, and Bobbie White who created the cover for this year's invitations for the Gala. A Spotlight Table which comes with its own waiters, special wines, individual gifts for each patron, and limousine service to and from the event will be auctioned for next year's Gala as in past years. Each year the Foundation's events get bigger and better. But success can bring problems. Dee Ladd feels, "that if an event gets too large, it's no longer fun. You feel lost in the crowd. We want people to have a good time when they help the Foundation and feel part of the event." So once again, to help keep things rolling, she is busily working on a new event, The Christmas Box Festival, which will take place November 21. A sneak preview of the event will be made at the Gala April 24th. "All I can say is that it will not be a copy of anything else that is being done during the holiday season. We're so excited about this event that we have trademarked the name!" While you're looking forward to that event, don't miss April with the Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation. Plan to come out and COLOR US FRIENDS now, and through all the seasons to come. COLOR US FRIENDS AT OUR BIRTHDAY PARTY - April 10 - Boulevard Mall front parking lot, 11:00 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $2.00 for children, $3.00 for adults. COLOR US FRIENDS THROUGH ALL THE HOLIDAYS LUNCHEON - April 23 - Las Vegas Hilton, 11:30AM - 1:30PM, Luncheon and Raffle, $25.00 COLOR US FRIENDS THROUGH ALL THE HOLIDAYS BLACK TIE GALA - April 24 - Las Vegas Hilton, 6:30PM Social & Silent Auction; 8:00PM Dinner; 9:15PM Live Art Auction, $130.00 THE CHRISTMAS BOX FESTIVAL - November 24, 1999, Las Vegas Hilton For information or tickets for events, to purchase the "From SunRISE to SunSET" cookbook, or to volunteer, call the Foundation at 731-8373. |
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