Black Tie and Tales

Supersizing the thank-you note

How do you celebrate two anniversaries with one party, fundraise and make it an exceptionally rewarding and fun evening to say thank you to your supporters? That’s the challenge for Debbie Haspel and Susan Mallitz, the chairwomen of this year’s Jewish Family and Children’s Service Gala coming up Dec. 13. It is the 30th anniversary for JFCS — 30 years of dedication to helping all people, guided by the Jewish tradition of “tikkun olam,” which means, “heal the world.”  And it is the 10th anniversary for the event itself, the brainchild of Marie Monsky, who chaired the first edition in 2006.  

Haspel and Mallitz recruited a committee that includes all the past chairpersons of the event. They came up with a program that includes not only a performance by the Sarasota Orchestra, conducted by Dirk Meyer, but also dancing to John Miller’s Jazz Ensemble. There is a new video by Salt & Light Productions focusing on the agency’s youth programs and a printed program that recounts the histories of both the agency and, in pictures, the annual gala. They even got the past chairs into formal attire on a November afternoon for a commemorative photo to thank all the donors that have made the gala such as success. Because, as JFCS President and CEO Rose Chapman says, “We couldn’t do it without them.”

How to see a sold-out performance

Opera star Renee Fleming will make her Sarasota debut with the Sarasota Orchestra and Music Director Anu Tali Jan. 27 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and — no surprise — the concert sold out in one day. The good news is that both the Orchestra and the Van Wezel Foundation have benefits that include premium seating. Both organizations say that limited reservations are still available, though probably not for long. The orchestra event is a gala dinner and concert for $500 per person; call 487-2737. The Van Wezel Foundation is hosting an after-party and meet-and-greet with Fleming. $250 per person; call 366-5578. Call today.
No kidding!

Tidbits

One good deed begets another … Carol Camiener bought a wine-and-cheese party donated by J.P. Knaggs of the Bijou Café at an event for one of the many charities that she supports. What did she do with it? Invited likeminded friends, along with a couple of development people to meet each other. Her list: Ann Albritton (Ringling College), Toby Etkin, Joyce Gidwitz, Barbara Jacob, Melvy Lewis, Flora Majors, Susan McLeod (Season of Sculpture), Tricia Mire (Asolo Rep), Vicki Randall (Ringling College), Jan Schmidt, Meryl Taback, Sally Yanowitz ... Head over heels … Overheard (OK, eavesdropped): One guest was admiring another’s stunning high heels and asked who the designer was, obviously expecting Louboutin or Jimmy Choo or one of that gang. The surprise reply: “You won’t believe it, but they came from H&M and cost me 50 bucks.” … Officer Krupke … Referring to the crowd at a recent event featuring “West Side Story,” Eddie Minyard volunteered that he was the only one present who had actually carried a knife and a gun into a fight … back when he was an Army Ranger, that is … The Verdis are coming, the Verdis are coming … The relatives of composer Giuseppe Verdi are, of course, coming for the Verdi Festival that the Sarasota Opera is putting on March 16-20. It celebrates the completion of the 28-year-long Verdi cycle, which will make our Sarasota Opera the only company in the world to have performed all of Verdi’s music. Info on the festival: sarasotaopera.org.