Monday, June 3, 2019

On the Scene

An inaugural gala for Shriners Hospitals for Children-Shreveport featured dinner, a guest speaker and an auction on May 11 at Eldorado Resort Casino. Paul Pratt received the Dreamer Award for helping establish the Haynesville Shale Bass Tournament, which has raised $160,000 since 2010. He and his wife are parents of a patient of Shriners. High Lifter Products also received a Dreamer Award for its annual ride that includes a raffle for a Polaris unit and a mud ride, and has raised more than $116,000. Named to the Philanthropic Society was Spirit of Halloween. The Spirit of Children Fund has raised $263,884 for the Child Life program. The funds are used for art and music activities, renovations to playrooms and field trips. – Mary Ann Van Osdell

Shriners

1) Retired Capt. Will and Anita Gray and Mary Anne and Kim Green

2) Alan Smith, Hayes Smith, Kayce Smith

3) Bill and Laci Rodriquez, Tyler and Kylee Rodriguez, Barbara and Tony Rodriguez

4) Kenny Hamm and Karen and Dr. Cary Mielke

The American Rose Society hosted their fundraising gala in the Klima Rose Hall at the American Rose Center, this year honoring Maggie Martin. The event featured a silent auction, music by Eddie Spencer, food by Maison Louisiane and special guest Will Radler, who created the Knock Out Rose that revolutionized rose growing forever. Maggie Martin was the 2019 recipient of the Mary Johnston Award for her contributions in promoting the American Rose Center during her career at The Times. All money raised at the dinner benefi ts the Great Garden Restoration Project, which is slated to be completed in 2022. – Mary Ann Van Osdell

Wine & Roses

5) Deb Cockrell, Maggie Martin, Dennis Beckman

6) Dottie Bell, Loralee and Seborn Woods

7) Karen Black, Bonne Summers

8) Trudy Daniel, Janie Lipscomb

A Century of Women celebration took place May 18 at the Woman’s Department Club to observe its 100th anniversary. Attire was era cocktail. Former presidents and lifetime members were introduced, and Liz Swaine emceed, along with Sandra Harrold. Maredia Bowdon and Liza DiSavino spoke, and Seva May, Gale Odom and Brenda Wimberly sang. DiSavino discussed the club’s co-founder, Katherine Jackson French, who earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1906 and served for 24 years as a professor of literature at Centenary College. The auditorium, where the program took place, has been the showcase for concerts, recitals, plays and film premieres, and has hosted Eleanor Roosevelt, Edward R. Murrow, Robert Frost, Katharine Hepburn and Van Cliburn. The club has a lengthy history of active community participation such as hosting bazaars, dances and teas as fundraisers, and during World War II, raising over $1 million in United States war bonds and purchasing two airplanes for the United States Army Air Corps located at Barksdale Field. – Mary Ann Van Osdell

Woman’s Department Club