Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute Annual Gala
"An Eye on Hollywood"
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Breakers Palm Beach
"Eye on the stars of the evening"
Suzi Goldsmith, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso,
Ari Rifkin, Michele Jacobs
ON STAGE!
Robert and Irene Walters, Martin Rifkin, Chair Ari Rifkin, Rick and Soula Rifkin
Chair Suzi Goldsmith with long-time Bascom Palmer Eye Institute benefactors Simon and Norma Fireman
Photos by
Ron & Maya
Johnson
Molly and Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Lois Pope and Dr. Terry and Masako O'Brien
Dr. David Samimi,
Dr. Arianna and Dr. Andrew Moshfeghi
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Physicians
enjoy the gala
The O'Brien's with Molly Alfonso
Dr. Ryan Ison with
his wife Jennie
EYE ON
HOLLYWOOD!
Bob & Michele Jacobs with Nancy and Linton Murdock
Bob & Michele Jacobs
UM’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Ranked #1 in Ophthalmology for Fifth Consecutive Year
U.S. News & World Report Releases 2008 Best Hospitals Ranking
July 11, 2008 -- For the fifth year in a row, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has been ranked the nation’s best in ophthalmology in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Hospitals survey. Bascom Palmer has received this top ranking seven times in the last 14 years.
Gifts for the stars!
UM’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Ranked #1 in Ophthalmology for Fifth Consecutive Year.
Benefactor Sy Ziv with Heidi Klein
Photos by
Ron & Maya
Johnson
PalmBeachToday.Net
brings you society
event coverage in
hours!
Photos by
Ron & Maya
Johnson
Dale and Marietta McNulty with Heather McNulty Wyser-Pratte
Chair Michele Jacobs with Lexye Aversa
Wes Cawley of the Sexauer Foundation with Carol Matlack and Barbara and RC Gilbert.
Benefactors Rhoda and David Chase, right,
with granddaughter Dara Chase Dyer and Dara's husband Ross Dyer
Hayden Hosford and Dr. Herbert Gould
Vilda de Porro, Maurice Kazzi and Red Carpet Table Sponsor Herme de Wyman Miro
(the movie star with appropriate glasses on right!)
Dancing Stars of the Evening!
David Chase & Herme de Wyman Miro
Clark Gable,
at right, waiting
in line to get some more of that great popcorn.
Irvin and Barbara Saltzman with Evelyn and Seymour Holtzman
Carl and Iris Apfel (See where Iris got her necklace)
Dr. David Goldman
with his wife,
Dr. Amy Banooni
Doris Hastings
Robin and Richard Bernstein
Photos by
Ron & Maya
Johnson
PalmBeachToday.Net
brings you society
event coverage in
hours!
Judy Bergman and Sanford Golding
Leslie and Patsy Spero
Ari Rifkin and Dr. Janet Davis
“I wanted to chair this gala for Bascom Palmer because of the excellent, compassionate care that they and Dr. Janet Davis provided to my late husband, Lenny, which enabled him to enjoy his vision long after others told him he would go blind.
I want people to learn about the excellent work that Bascom Palmer is doing right here in Palm Beach Gardens—plus I am a major movie buff—so the theme was a natural one for me.”
Ari Rifkin, Chairman
The Star Family!
Dr. Lucia and Robert Harvey
Dr. Donald Wallace
Trudy and Gordon Brekus
On Saturday, March 14, more than 300 friends and supporters of the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute received the red carpet treatment at the 28th annual Evening of Vision Gala.
The dazzling black tie affair, themed “Eye on Hollywood: A Salute to the Classics”, was true to its promise of returning its guests to the glamour of the silver screen during the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. The event was a tremendous success, thanks to the wonderful leadership of gala chair Mrs. Ari Rifkin, who chaired the event in loving memory of her late husband, Leonard Rifkin, and was joined by co-chairs Mrs. Suzi Goldsmith and Mrs. Michele Jacobs.
Dr. and Mrs. Eduardo C. Alfonso, Interim Chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and the gala chairmen, warmly welcomed arriving guests into the evening’s cocktail reception where the highlight was an Oscar-Award winning silent auction of more than $100,000 in exquisite jewelry.
Silent auction items were acquired through the dedicated efforts of Mrs. Rifkin and the generosity of many donors--jewelers such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Roberto Coin, Judith Ripka, Jewelry by Kim, Australian Opal Cutters, Bermar Jewelers, Debrick, Eclectic Dragon Design, Mike Lemick, Montreaux, Nini, Temple St. Clair and Chopard. Other auction items included two VIP tickets to The Ellen Degeneres Show, two tickets and limo service to The Oprah Winfrey Show, and a lunch with Academy Award winning actress Faye Dunaway.
To kick off the ball, Dr. Alfonso expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the chairmen, committee members, benefactors and friends for supporting the Institute. “It is the commitment of the Palm Beach community that has propelled the Institute to what it is today,” said Alfonso. “Because of your continued support, Palm Beach has the most advanced eye care facility in the world.”
Pascal J. Goldschmidt, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, also gave homage to the guests by attributing University of Miami’s reputation for medical innovation and education in South Florida and internationally to the generosity of many of their Palm Beach friends.
The Breakers’ Venetian Ballroom was masterfully transformed with brilliant displays of fuchsia hydrangea and roses, movie reels and cascading film atop plum velvet and fuchsia satin tables. Striking images from the movies illuminated the stage and the dance floor, where guests danced to the entertaining Alex Donner Orchestra.
Hollywood’s famous Brown Derby restaurant inspired the appetizer of Roasted Heirloom Tomato Bisque with Croque Monsieur with a Mini Brown Derby “Cobb” Salad; the main attraction was Rosemary Basted Filet Mignon with Caponata, Semolina Gnocchi, and Baby Yellow Zucchini and the finale was an award-winning Film Reel Sundae, with chocolate popcorn and brandied fruit.
As the encore, guests received parting gifts which included a framed souvenir portrait, an inspirational book by Dr. Madeleine Singer and fragrances, compliments of the Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. All proceeds from this event are used to support patient care and research at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Palm Beach Gardens.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has earned an international reputation as one of the premier providers of eye care in the world and is rated #1 in ophthalmology in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Bascom Palmer is the largest ophthalmic care, research and educational facility in the southeastern United States treating more than 200,000 patients each year with nearly every ophthalmic condition and performing more than 10,000 surgeries annually. With patient care facilities in Palm Beach Gardens, Miami, Naples and Plantation, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has served as the Department of Ophthalmology for the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine since its founding in 1962.
For more information concerning Bascom Palmer Eye Institute or its physicians, please contact Marie Bloom Deckert at 561/515-1527 or visit the website at www.bascompalmer.org.
On Saturday, March 14, more than 300 friends and supporters of the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute received the red carpet treatment at the 28th annual Evening of Vision Gala.
The dazzling black tie affair, themed “Eye on Hollywood: A Salute to the Classics”, was true to its promise of returning its guests to the glamour of the silver screen during the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.
Saks Fifth Avenue General Manager
Mindy Curtis-Horvitz with her
husband John.
Since 2-27-/11
