It was a great turnout — 650 guests –and a boffo fundraising effort –$400,000 — for Mt. Sinai Hospital’s Candlelight Ball Saturday night at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
The black-tie ball, themed “Open Your Heart,” honored Joyce Sloane, Mt. Sinai’s Women’s Board president for 30 years, and producer emeritus for Second City. Sloane received the Service Club’s Torchlight Award for humanitarian service.
Many celebrities were on hand to pay tribute, including Tim Kazurinsky, David Rasche and George Wendt (who signed autographs during the cocktail hour), but those who could not attend sent letters that were compiled into a book for Sloane. Director Betty Thomas and actress Shelley Long sent congrats.
The $250-per-person event raised money for cancer treatment at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center as part of the Campaign for Life.
– Clusters of fans and TV crews gathered outside (and inside) the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Saturday night to catch a glimpse of actor Michael Douglas (looking rakish and fit) as he entered to pick up a lifetime achievement award from the Chicago International Film Festival.
Once inside, Douglas was feted by, among others, his co-star of three films, Kathleen Turner, director Milos Forman, producer Saul Zaentz, and an emotional Jeanne Tripplehorn, who appeared with him in the film “Basic Instinct.”
After the tribute, guests gathered for dinner at tables themed to his films. A couple of the best: A “Fatal Attraction” table with a pot as a centerpiece and rabbits draped inside; and a “Basic Instinct” centerpiece of handcuffs and “candy bikinis.”
A dinner of field greens and chicken rolled with spinach was served; Douglas and his Hollywood friends left before dessert.
– Third-grader Leah Smith got a standing ovation from the crowd of heavy hitters last Thursday at Providence-St. Mel’s annual fundraising dinner in the Hyatt Regency Chicago’s Grand Ballroom. Smith handled her speech, “The Miracle of Providence-St. Mel School” with toastmasterly aplomb.
The $500-a-plate dinner netted about $400,000 for the school, which sees that 100 percent of its students go on to college. The dinner was chaired by Karen Pritzker, Pat Shutack and Stan Pepper.
– Clothing designer Liz Claiborne was among the honorees Friday night at the Field Museum in a tribute organized by the Committee of 200, an organization of women business leaders. Though the organization celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, Friday night’s fete was its first formal fundraising event. About 525 people were on hand, raising about $525,000.
Besides Claiborne, others picking up “Luminary” awards included Patricia Mary Cloherty, president and general partner of Patricof & Co. Ventures, Inc., and Kay Koplovitz, founder, chairman and CEO of USA networks.
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