Cancer Society gala gets personal
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/a...rsvp-liv24.htmlTickets for Saturday night's Jewel Ball to benefit the American Cancer Society at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, started at $300 per person. And preferred seating was $1,250 for two guests. But bestselling author Clive Cussler offered $10,000 for only two seats. He R.S.V.P.'d only two days before the gala, but that's not why he overpaid. In January 2003, Clive's wife of 47 years, Barbara, lost her battle to cancer.
Clive's personal passion is reflective of why many guests turned out for this soiree. It's why Michael and Tara Shapiro pledged to match donations up to $50,000. It's why they donated several items for the auction and bought a table at the dinner. It was the table at which they raised and clicked their glasses toasting Tara, a breast cancer survivor. She was the gala's honorary chair.
KPNX-TV's Mark Curtis told guests about his mother's recent cancer diagnosis. And the list goes on. Unfortunately, there probably wasn't one guest in the entire room who hasn't known someone with cancer. Jill Krigsten's grandmother, aunt, and friend died from cancer. She co-chaired the black-tie affair with Dee Nowell.
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By the way, adventure writer Cussler asked Lisa Castelli to marry him in storybook form, beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on bended knee. And Saturday night, the couple sat with Cornelis Hollander, who designed her engagement ring. And in other romance-related jewel anecdotes, Michael Shapiro bid $18,000 for the diamond necklace donated by Jewelry by Gauthier - a jewel of a gift for his wife, Tara.