Wow! What a Night!
January 15, 2010 Mar-a-Lago Club
500 at most fabulous gala of the year!
Alzheimer's Community Care!
Gala Host Chair Donald Trump, Geri and Frank Morrow,
Gala Chairs for fifth consecutive season
Mary Barnes, center, President & CEO of Alzheimer's Community Care,
with David and Rhoda Chase, recipients of the Anne & Leo Albert Memorial Award
By Ronald Tee Johnson
Editor & Co-Publisher
Palm Beach Today
I don't know how Geri and Frank Morrow do it, but every year for the past five years they somehow persuade The Steven Chase Orchestra to pull out all the great music for the annual Alzheimer's Community Care gala.
As Palm Beach galas go this is the one at the Mar-a-Lago Club with dancin' feet and always features a sort of bonding of gala goers as the hair really comes down and the troubles of the world are put on the back burner for a few hours.
The Morrow's have brought the Alzheimer's gala to record highs with this one .... more than 500 attending in the Grand Ballroom and it appears a record $600,000 was raised.
Even The Donald, a Gala Host Chair, was into it as he was pulled out onto the dance floor before he could eat his "Trump Iceburg," lobster and quail (see the video) by "Trump Groupies" which is made up of Geri Morrow and her head table friends. At one time Donald was dancing with three beauties at once!
This was one of Bruce Sutka's best decor jobs with brilliant flowers and feathers and hanging stars and all things Latin to go along with "Stayin' Alive" which is no easy trick to pull off.
The entertainment was over the top with a Latin dance group worthy of New York stage and even the most seasoned society matron was part of the standing ovation. The International Ballroom Dance Team of Babette & Warren Brown was once again spectacular as was a substantial bid during the live auction by Alexis Mersentes to go home in a Smart Car. Did they leave the Bentley at the club?
What has become a tradition of the Alzheimer's gala, Geri Morrow strolled the room showing off a spectacular diamond necklace from Rosenberg Diamonds & Co. It always helps to promote sale of the piece with former model Geri wearing it.
Mary Barnes, President & CEO of Alzheimer's Community Care, and board chair Larry Butcher, took great pride in presenting the Anne and Leo Albert Memorial Award to two of the most popular philanthropists in the land - Rhoda and David Chase.
The late Leo Albert was described as "a most loving man" by Rhoda Chase during her acceptance speech. Leo's wife, Anne, was a victim of Alzheimer's for many years.
The Morrow's drew enthusiastic applause as they announced that they would be back for their sixth year. "The board of directors of Alzheimer's Community Care have asked us to continue on as gala chairs until we get it right so we'll be back!"
Indeed .... a "Wow" ranking because it was one of those .... "What a Night!" galas.
Henry Fong and Mary Virginia Knight, National Honorary Chairs
Helene and Stanley Karp
Lois Pope, Herme de Wyman Miro, Gala Honorary Chair,
David & Rhoda Chase
Arlette and Robert Gordon
alzcare.org
Chair Geri Morrow, Donald Trump, Joanie Elliott
Chair Geri Morrow, Donald Trump, Joanie Elliott
Hot Latin Rhythms was the theme designed by Bruce Sutka at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club
Lynn Paradis and Michael Dixon
Marianthi Dillenge, Gala Committee Member, with Robert Littman
Suzy Minkoff with Bernard Bennett
Paulette and Paul Noble
Mary Barnes, President & CEO of Alzheimer's Community Care,
with Board Chairman Larry Butcher and Faith Morford
Tim "The Byrdman" Byrd, the Celebrity Emcee
The Morrow's chaired their fifth Alzheimer's Gala
"Somehow the Morrow's have a way to get the best music of the season!"
David and Rhoda Chase with granddaughter Dara and her husband Ross Timothy Dyer
Helene Karp has "dancin' feet" with Kurt Von Hofmann
LATIN
DANCE
TROUPE!
Babette &
Warren Brown
International
Ballroom
Dance Team
Second course: "Mr. Trump's Iceberg Wedge."
Simon and Norma Fireman
Richard and Marilyn Jacobs
Larry Butcher with the Morrow's thanking the committee
and board members of Alzheimer's Community Care
Hayden Hosford and Dr. Herbert Gould
Lois Pope and Simon C. Fireman
Herme de Wyman Miro and Seymour Holtzman
Elayne Flamm and Michael Alexander
Denise and Bill Meyer
Sydelle Meyer
Ari Rifkin
Grand Corporate Benefactor: Positive ID Corporation.
Grand Corporate Benefactors: Pfizer. (L-R) Melissa Waetjen, Andy Abbott, Mary Ellen Carroll,
Nancy Pehlan, Mary Barnes of ACC, Frank Closurdo. .
Mindy Curtis-Horvitz, left, Soula Rifkin, center, and Pat Mancuso
Richard Jankus and Carla-Rae Salm - Grand Raffle Winner!
Peggy Davies and Jay Sullivan
At left is Long time Alzheimer's Community Care board member "Big Jim" Gregory.
Bruce Sutka and the Morrow's created another fabulous decor and theme
Photos by
Maya & Ronald Tee Johnson
Video by Ronald Tee Johnson
Note: Watch for exclusive footage of The Donald dancing!
Since 2-27-/11
