Scene & Heard

First came the hundreds of charity events, the millions of dollars donated and the worthy causes honored. That was our 2007 charity circuit, and now, drum rolls please, come the Phil (as in philanthropy) Awards for notable achievements during this past glorious season. It was a year of creative ways to attract attention and dollars, a time when dinner, dancing and an auction at fancy hotels became … sooo yesterday. So here are some highlights. And, truly, you all get Phils for digging so deep into your hearts and wallets.

Most Tears Shed at a Charity Event
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Immokalee High School’s Alex Jeanty received the Outstanding Youth Award and a surprise $10,000 scholarship at National Philanthropy Day in Southwest Florida "Honored to Give" awards luncheon last November. With his proud mother at his side, he said he plans to buy her a home with his first paycheck.

Most Controversial Guest
We welcomed Miss U.S.A. Tara Conner to our community last November for her featured part in a world-class "Puttin’ it on at the Ritz" fashion show and gala (Talk of the Town, benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida-Gulf Coast). Just two weeks later, Donald Trump, owner of the Miss U.S.A. franchise, sent her to rehab for underage partying, rather than stripping her of her title. Who can forget the Donald meting out justice at that live news conference?

Most Controversial Guest (in absentia)
Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly was scheduled to host a huge Celebration Dinner for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children last March also at the Ritz—and then was suddenly "uninvited." The reason? Speculation is that it had to do with inflammatory remarks he made on his show about child kidnapping victim Shawn Hornbeck.

Guests with the Biggest Bank Accounts
At $7,500 per couple, that would be the patrons of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. In January, they raised $15.6 million for children’s charities in Collier County in a burst of
generosity that surely ranks the event among the most noteworthy the world over. You also couldn’t help but note Ray Lutgert’s winning bid of $2 million for the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Most Entertaining Event
Wishmaker’s Ball (benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation). Local celebrities (like yours truly) spent months taking dance lessons to compete for the title. It took all the courage I could summon to put on my lime green, sequined costume with one too many cutouts in the back, bottom and front! ABC7’s Len Jennings stole the crown with his sexy tango.

The Biggest Luncheon Charity Event
Mending Broken Hearts with Hope last February (benefiting the Shelter for Abused Women and Children). Guest speaker Ashleigh Banfield was such a hit, they had to set up a big-screen TV in another room so that all 950 attendees could see and hear the Court TV host. Rumor has it that the staff served the most lunches ever at one time at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort.

The Only Real Ball in Southwest Florida
The Magnolia Ball (benefiting the Magnolia Education and Research Endowment Fund). Suzanne Chute’s original vision got this ball rolling, and it takes you back to the days of real Southern hospitality. And, no, black-tie and evening gowns weren’t good enough for this evening last April. It’s white jackets for the men and ball gowns (some with hoops) and gloves for the ladies.

Most Picketed Event
An Evening with Jane Fonda last February (benefiting Planned Parenthood of Collier County). The actress and activist can still stir emotions. Dozens of people showed up to protest her actions during the Vietnam War. Now Fonda is on a mission to empower girls and tours the nation raising money for programs to support teen pregnancy prevention.

The See and Be Seen Event for the Fort Myers Set
Arts for ACT (benefiting the Abuse Counseling and Treatment Center). The crowds of 1,500 had to applaud the recent star turns of auctioneers Joan Rivers and Lauren Hutton. Special applause has to go, too, to 2005’s celebrity host, Sharon Stone. She took off her dress to offer it for auction, then got $3,000 for the tablecloth she wrapped around her body. Other celebrity hosts included Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep. World-renowned artist—and Captiva resident—Robert Rauschenberg helped, as ever, in bringing in the celebrities.

Best Excuse to Go Public in Jeans and Boots
The Cattle Baron’s Ball. This one is so popular in Lee County that tickets are sold out months in advance. It’s the No. 1 ball of its kind in Florida, raising $760,000 for the American Cancer Society last January. And we ladies don’t even have to buy a new dress. Yee haw!

The Greenest Emcee
The Storybook Ball (benefiting the Ronald McDonald House). This year’s theme at Sanibel Resort and Spa was Shrek, complete with faux castle, costumed characters and medieval fare. I was scheduled to be the emcee, but food poisoning altered my plans—and appearance. Princess Fiona is green, though, so I was definitely in character.

Best Dressed Women at Galas
Who better than my haute couture guru, Marissa Hartington of Marissa Collections, to turn to for these calls?
Jenny Sutton has a style and class unmatched at any event; her taste in clothing is extraordinary.
Martha Fligg always looks like she just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Her style is understated, but elegant. It helps that whatever she wears fits her size-four frame just perfectly. Her unique pearl collection is legendary.
Penny Anderson combines fun and funky with classy and chic. She manages to pull off youthful clothing and accessories while always looking like a lady. It doesn’t hurt that she was once a fashion model.

Most Active Event-goer
Naples Mayor Bill Barnett is the man for all seasons and reasons here. Never one to ignore a charity organizer’s call for help, he is generous with his time (and so is his wife) and often brings his charisma as an auctioneer to raise the ante at many events.