This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Dinner/auction raises $125,000 for Boys and Girls Clubs

The 15,000 youth members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, ages 6 to 18, were not at the dinner/auction at Rice Eccles Stadium Tower March 25, but you can bet they did a "Jump, Jive 'n' Wail" along with about 275 guests who helped bring $125,000 for B&G programs in Salt Lake City, Park City and Tooele.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America, celebrating 100 years, is a national network of more than 3,300 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving 3.6 million youngsters, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances.

"Boys and Girls Clubs gives kids a safe place to be, with guidance and support of caring adults," board president Henry "Hank" Hemingway reminded guests, who raised cards in the live auction "Bid for Kids." Two flights with Vietnam War fighter pilot Dick Mitchell fetched $900 each, and a Salt Lake Bees game with a tented barbecue for 50 sold for $1,450.

Music by Joe Muscolino, auction by Richard O'Keef with Ann Gore, food by Cuisine Unlimited and a breathtaking view of the city were dampened only slightly by a sudden and spectacular snowstorm that caught folks as they carried out auction treasures.

BRAVING THE STORM

Cydney Neil, Dick Mitchell, LeAnne and Pete Saldivar, Jim and Brenda Barber, Paula Draper and Frank White, Maggie Strasser, Helen Peters, June Perlman, Bonnie Wray, Arashan Heikkila, Dennis King, Judy and Scott Alvarez, Myrna and Doug Mottonen, Spence Yeates, George and Kim Adondakis, Barbara and Ed Gallacher and Sharon Seely.

OVERHEARD

"I liked it better when the weather reporters were not so accurate at predictions."

- Anonymous

ART & SOUP:

A TASTY MIX

The 18th annual Community Nursing Services' Celebration of Art & Soup began March 28 with a gala at the top of Salt Lake City - the 23rd floor of the Wells Fargo Building - but retains the 78-year-old CNS image of "a lady who carries a hospital in a handbag."

The "lady" has been joined by "gentlemen," as the oldest and only freestanding not-for-profit home health and hospice agency in Utah. CNS serves infants, children, new mothers and adults with home health needs, from emergency response to rehabilitation therapy with registered and licensed practical nurses, home health aides, hospice, and Kaleidoscope Kids for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The opening dinner, with KUED director of production Ken Verdoia as emcee/auctioneer, saluted Kem Gardner, co-founder/past president of the Boyer Company, as the event's honorary chairman in recognition of his community and charity work.

The art was awesome; Utah Food Services outdid itself. And the 2 1/2 -day event drew 4,000 soup and art soul mates and raised $90,000.

AT "LA BELLE GALA"

CNS president/CEO Grant Howarth, CNS board president/CEO Kirk Olsen, Janet Jenson, Jeannine Bennett and husband Steve Creamer, Beth Ehrhardt, Hillary Call, Candy Verhoef, Fred and Taya Conlon, volunteer coordinator Sheri Harrell, Ed and Marcia Hogan, Joy and Bill Erickson, Jill Jones, Marianne Goldthorpe, Vince Iturbe and Kathy Hillis.

COMING EVENTS

* Join Rocky Mountain Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer for a family buffet dinner/auction Tuesday, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Salt Palace, room 250, 100 S. West Temple. Dress is casual; tickets are $40 per person, $75 per couple, $10 per child. Call 1-888-556-2737, ext. 33.

* Join Ronald McDonald House Charities on an Oriental Odyssey Saturday, 6 p.m., Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $150; call 801-363-4663.

* No More Homeless Pets in Utah invites you and your well-behaved dog to a party Saturday, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Hotel Monaco, 15 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Advance tickets are $75; $85 at the door. Call 801-554-0023.

* "Operation Kids" honors Steve Young with the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday, 6 p.m., Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Black tie requested. Tickets are $500; call 801-424-9604.