CCS 29th Detroit International Wine Auction The 29th Detroit International Wine Auction (DIWA) for the College for Creative Studies attracted 415 to the GM Wintergarden for auction bidding, fine dining and, what else, fine wines. Before joining the throng, 150 guests at the prelude VIP reception exercised their bidding moves during a mini auction of six items that raised $9,300. When the final cork was popped, the silent auction of 75 lots and the live auction of 55 lots, combined with tickets and the sponsorship of GM and others, raised an astounding $1 million plus. This included the $26,000 winning bid for Featured Vinter Duckhorn Wine Company’s Alex Ryan’s donation that included a trip for four through Napa Valley. Proceeds from the annual event support the scholarship fund, which currently aids 100 percent of the students, and the Community Arts Partnerships (CAP) programs, which last year provided free art and design education to more than 4,000 Detroit school children. Shelter’s Dancing with the Stars The crowd gathered at The Reserve for South Oakland Shelter’s second Dancing with the Stars fundraiser was in a good mood even before the dancing started. But once the celebrity dancers - Jackie Paige, Johnny Maalouf, Amy Cremen, Monica Del Signore and John Gottsacker - and their partners started making their moves, the decibels really ramped up. And when Bacco Ristorante coowner Del Signore, who was absolutely stunning in a sparkling dress, was center stage, celebrity judge Lauren Podell asked, ”How does she own an Italian restaurant and look that good?” Fitness consultant Gottsacker’s huge popularity was also evident as his groupies squealed their approval and celebrity judge L. Brooks Patterson opined, “This boy can move!” Following the judges’ assignment of points, the voting was close across the board, but a tie existed at the top between Del Signore and Gottsacker. Emcee Guy Gordon called for crowd applause to break the tie. That was also a draw. So event chairs Bill and Jennie Cook invited the audience to vote with their dollars, all of which will help SOS and its congregation partners reduce the impact of homelessness in the community. After the judging, guests crowded the dance floor until midnight. Counting the silent auction the spirited event, which was produced with flair by Gail & Rice, raised well over $45,000, not counting some matching funds from the Community Foundation. Cattle Baron’s Ball The same night as SOS’s Dancing With the Stars, the eighth annual American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball attracted 600 cancer fighters to Oakland University’s Shotwell-Gustafson Pavilion, a perfect, barnlike venue for the country-casual soiree predowntownpublications.com
A FangTastic Private Party
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1. Party hostess Linda Orlans (left) of Birmingham with Paul Welday and his wife Valerie Knol of Farmington Hills. 2. Leslie Craigie (as Kate Perry) & her husband John Henke (as Elmo) of Birmingham. 3. Gerhardt Knodel (left) and Ken Gross of Bloomfield. 4. Tavi Fulkerson (left) and her husband Bill Hampton of Bloomfield with former Bloomfielders Tom & Joan LeMahieu now of Los Gatos, CA. 5. Nan (left) & Murray Wikol and Brian & Beth Henry of Bloomfield. 6. Pierre Corriveau of Birmingham. 7. Ladies Gaga Susan Lundin (left) and Pamela Gerber of Bloomfield. 8. Sharyl & Alan Ackerman of Bloomfield.
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The Uptown Group Boo Blast
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1. Fox-2’s Jason Carr (left) & Taryn Asher with TUG co-chairs Jenna Buchanan and Dennis Uhnavy of Birmingham. 2. Lauren Eaton (left) of Bloomfield, Colleen Galacz of Sylvan Lake, Stephanie Ashley of Bloomfield and Anne Hall of Birmingham. 3. Costume Contest Winners: Lori Shannon (left) of Birmingham, Robert Bourbonnais of Oakland Twp. John Armstrong of Huntington Woods and Rhonda Marvar of Pleasant Ridge.
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Nutcracker Luncheon & Boutique
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1. Volunteer Council president Janet Ankers (left) of Beverly Hills and event chair Barbara Diles of Bloomfield. 2. Past presidents Debra Partrich (seated left) and Kelly Hayes of Royal Oak with Vickie Pochron and committee member Ellie Tholen of Birmingham and committee. member Deb Savoie of Bloomfield. 3. Vogue Vintage Jewels’ artist Robin Stone of Bloomfield. 4. Klassics by Kurtis’ Curtis Posuniak (left) and John Booth of Bloomfield. 5. Janice Nichols (left) and Lucia Zurkowski of Bloomfield.
CCS 29th Detroit International Wine Auction 1. Irma Elder of Bloomfield and CCS Trustee Frank Campanale of Orchard Lake. 2. K.C. Crain (left) of Birmingham and CCS Trustee GM’s Ed Welburn of Detroit. 3. Al Lucarelli (left) of Grosse Pointe and Gretchen & Ethan Davidson of Bloomfield.
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