Friday, August 12, 2005 | The 59th Jewel Ball, held on a starry night at the transformed La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club recently, raised more than $1 million to benefit San Diego organizations.
The theme for this year was “Wrapped in Moonlight.” It could have also been called “wrapped in elegance.” The formidable and beautiful Dawn Kearney of Design Line Interiors added her unique decorating touches to the club’s entrance, fountain, pool area and four tennis courts for the ball, including pretty wooded backdrops, purple-blue hued essences and “moon lighting.” A fabric draped bridge over the pool paved the way for guests to stroll from the cocktail hour of sushi by Japengo’s, pizzas by Sammy’s and seafood by Ghio’s, to the ballroom for dinner and dancing to the incredible Wayne Foster Orchestra.
Dawn, as the event’s chairwoman, could not have done this alone. She was joined by a brilliant team of Las Patronas, the tireless Jewel Ball volunteers. Among the many who work all year long for this fundraising event are the beautiful in blue Jewel Ball co-chairs, Carol Walter and Terry Cooper, and Las Patronas President Teresa Hixson. They, along with many other Las Patronas volunteers, put together the elegant Jewel Ball 2005. The Jewel Ball’s purpose is to raise funds to benefit annually chosen, in-need San Diegan organizations.
Among the smartly dressed set at the Jewel Ball were Peter Caruso and Scott Johnston, who arrived by a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, Dianne Bell pretty in gold brocade with her husband Roy Bell, Monique Grey, Dianne and Jim Bashor, Elisabeth Bergan in Oscar de la Renta pale tulle with her husband Dr. John Bergan, Anne Fomon and her husband Joe Ulloa, golfers Jane and Nick Wyer, Anne Halsey-Smith (her grandfather, Admiral William Halsey, just had the USS Halsey Naval ship dedicated to him) and her husband Peter Smith, Betsy and Scott McClendon, Anne Middleton, Debbie and Hal Jacobs of the Qualcomm founding family and Desiree and Fred Kellogg.
Among those enjoying a Hyatt Regency La Jolla catered dinner – featuring succulent Dungeness crab martinis, grilled asparagus wrapped in proscuitto, grilled filet mignon with morels and porcinis, a fromage selection, and chocolate tiramisu – were Sue and Lyle Kalish, Judy and Peter Corrente, Royce and John Campbell, Jeannie and Jeffrey Carlstead, Debby and Wain Fishburn, Joy and Jim Furby, Dianne York Goldman in Christian La Croix chiffon couture with her husband, Dr. Mitch Goldman in white jacketed tuxedo, Susan and Fred Oliver, Kerri Anderson in black Spanish flair from her recent trip to Spain, Torrie and Jay Schiller, Cindy and Bob Salvato, Sarah and David Burton, Lori and Randy Perkins, Micki Olin with Reid Abrams, Dr. Colleen NcNally, Kathryn and John Stephens, Mona Steen and Jim McKellar, and Wendy and Stu Segall of Stu Segall Productions.
Wendy, who is next year’s Jewel Ball Chairwoman, had the find of the evening. Wendy’s many magnetic button lights on the calla lilies, white roses and Hawaiian flower arrangements ended up being an unexpected accessory of the night, as party goers used them for earrings, tie lights and a few racier interpretations.
Also there in the “love that Wayne Foster Orchestra/have to dance crowd” were Jeanne and Bill Larson of The Collector Fine Jewelry. Jeanne wore a parure of beautiful blue Tanzanite while Bill’s tuxedo studs were elegant green tourmaline and diamonds. Tahnee McKellar and Joerg Kruse also were shining bright, but in this case with the very newlywed glow. Tahnee and Joerg got married with family and guests dressed all in white just days before.
It wasn’t white but a lot of green that was raised this year at the 59th “Wrapped in Moonlight” Jewel Ball. More than $1 million dollars will go to designated San Diego beneficiaries this year.
The 2005 donations will be used to fund a rubberized safety surface for the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation’s playground, a new kitchen for sustenance and education for the homeless and at-risk youth at the Monarch School Project, audio visual equipment and instructional DVDs in English and Spanish for the National City Public Library, a forklift for transferring food for the San Diego Food Bank, two highly customized Motomed cycles used in the rehabilitation of neuromuscular ill and injured patients at the Sharp Rehabilitation Service, and special computer equipment to aid low-vision students at the Vision of Children Foundation.
Three cheers to Las Patronas for all of your generous work!
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Margo Schwab, an alumna of the University of San Diego’s graduate business school, reports on social/charity events, celebrities, restaurants and from time to time breaking scoops.