Scene & Heard

But now let’s get to Patty and her husband, Jay, who have energized this community with their spirit of philanthropy (that means plenty of time, effort and money expended). This power couple sure had a lot to do with drawing out the movers and shakers, and Jay stepped up as auctioneer for the occasion. The former CEO of Kohl’s department stores charmed the crowd with his wit and humor and upped the ante with ever-so-gentle arm-twisting. The sum raised: $1.5 million. That total was matched by a kind, generous gentleman. (My sources tell me it was Jay himself.)

After the live auction, Patty leaped to her feet with a spur-of-the-moment bonus auction offer: dinner with Jay. The bidding was hot and heavy among several ladies before Terry Edwards won him for $5,000. Actually, Jay, you’re priceless, and so was the entire luncheon.

A Real Friend
My new hero is Doug MacGregor, cartoonist for The News-Press. This is a man who two years ago donated a kidney to his high school buddy, John Bielefeldt, now a father of three. Doug created a video documentary of the whole process, including a song he wrote. He premiered his Gift of Life video at the fundraiser for Organ Transplant Recipients of Southwest Florida Inc. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. He makes it sound like the surgery was no big deal, but the huge scar across his stomach says otherwise.

Winning Races
I like the move afoot to raise money for charities through more races and walks and fewer galas. It was sure great to see the second annual Race for the Cure bring in a whopping $810,000, nearly double what Susan G. Komen for the Cure raised during its first year. Watching the 650 survivors, supporters and their families gathering for this event at dawn is always an emotional moment. Another plus about this event: Three-quarters of the money raised stays in Southwest Florida for charities in Lee and Collier counties.

Family Fuss
Color my face red with embarrassment. I took my four-year-old son to the Easter egg hunt at The Forest Country Club, where more than 100 children and their parents were gathered for the entertainment. And in this lovely setting, there was my son suddenly taking a swing at his friend Mario during an argument over a green hula hoop. While horrified parents looked on, I lifted my son from the ruckus he created and made him sit in the car and watch the other children fill their baskets with eggs. I had egg on my face, too, particularly since the event coordinator at The Forest is my fabulous future sister-in-law Naomi Boyd. Welcome to the family, Naomi … and apologies all around.

Hollywood Visits
You might be seeing stars if you’re pulled over in Cape Coral by patrolman Vince Minnillo. His daughter is Hollywood "It" girl Vanessa Minnillo, and sources tell me she’s visited dad at Cape PD headquarters and has lots of fans there. Vanessa’s a former MTV host and current correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. She’s also the much-photographed girlfriend of the oh-so-handsome Nick Lachey. He’s welcome here, too.

Swanky Outing
In an afternoon called Tradition, Tailgate, Top Hats and Tails, Jenny and Kermit Sutton put on a swanky equestrian event at the gorgeous Wrenwood Farm in Naples. This was about dining al fresco—no ballroom dinners here—with the ladies in their best pastel dresses and hats and the gentlemen in linen suits. The fundraiser combined an International Hunter Derby competition with an effort to raise money for Naples Equestrian Challenge. Members of the Collier family attended, and generous contributions from Bob and Suzanne Chute and Art and Carole Allen (in the name of the family and his ASG Software Solutions) helped underwrite this world-class event. In all, the Suttons’ outing raised more than $250,000 for NEC’s therapeutic riding program.

Fame and Fortune?
How far will people go for fame and fortune? More than 6,000 local residents waited in the hot sun for six or more hours—some arriving the night before—to apply as contestants on the Wheel of Fortune game show. NBC2 hosted this two-day event at Hodges University campuses in Fort Myers and Naples. Pat Sajak and Vanna White didn’t show, but all local NBC2 anchors and meteorologists dropped by. My sources tell me 80 Southwest Floridians will be hearing back from the show’s producers as the selection process goes to the next step. I’m sure they’re hoping for more time in the spotlight … and a lot less in the glaring sunlight.