Chicker
01-12-2004, 07:34 AM
Shania and Waterkeeper Alliance
Monday, January 12, 2004
Kennedy gets $500,000 gift
Dinner fills environment group's coffers
By BILL BROOKS, CALGARY SUN
BANFF -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won't soon forget his 50th birthday.
Kennedy, in Banff this past weekend to co-host the Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational, was front and centre at Saturday night's gala awards dinner at the Springs.
More than $500,000 was raised at the awards dinner in support of Kennedy's charity, Waterkeeper Alliance, the world's fastest- growing environmental movement.
A half-million dollars is a great 50th birthday present to be sure.
But perhaps one has to be a Kennedy to have a stunning star sing Happy Birthday.
That's just what happened when the impossibly beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones, co-host of the three-day sporting event, took to the stage to serenade a delighted Kennedy.
Guests paid $275 each for the opportunity to get up close and personal with dozens of Hollywood stars, including Academy Award-winner Michael Douglas, Robin Williams, Fran Drescher, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Nicollete Sheridan, Tom Arnold, Peter Fonda, Lorenzo Lamas, Michael York, Corbin Bernsen, David Hill, Cris Judd, Michelle Phillips, Richard Dean Anderson, and Miss U.S.A. Susie Castillo.
Several deep-pocketed guests paid $8,000 for a Gold Circle table for 10 that included seating with a celebrity.
Nomadic Pictures' Chad Oakes hosted just such a table with Bernsen as the added star power.
"I often think of the U.S. as the 13th province of Canada," said Kennedy during his lengthy and passionate address.
A bad throat didn't prevent Kennedy from addressing topics as varied as capitalism, God, asthma and fish.
"Alberta suffers from air pollution ... from certain ministers," added the environmental attorney and activist in a not-too-subtle jab at Lorne Taylor, Alberta's environment minister.
For many guests, the highlight of the evening was Williams' hilarious 20-minute impromptu set. This hotel looks like the Hyatt on steroids," quipped the much-loved actor.
And impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson and even Jean Chretien were vintage Williams.
No need for producer-evangelist Marjoe Gortner to warm up the crowd after Williams was finished, as guests were clearly in a spending mood and bid furiously on 24 live-auction items.
More than $350,000 US was spent by the well-heeled guests in little more than an hour.
A four-day Italian stay in the Palzzo Ducale, the castle-home of Italy's famed Montaltos family, garnered top dollar from Americans Mary and Steven Swig, who paid a cool $35,000 US for this glamorous package.
And more than 115 silent auction items, ranging from a Shania Twain outfit to Seinfeld scripts, topped up the coffers of Waterkeeper Alliance.
A concert featuring Jackson Browne had guests dancing until well after midnight. And for the real party animals, it was off to the Hoo Doo Lounge for a private after-hours party.
http://www.canoe.ca/CalgaryNews/cs.cs-01-12-0003.html
:D
Monday, January 12, 2004
Kennedy gets $500,000 gift
Dinner fills environment group's coffers
By BILL BROOKS, CALGARY SUN
BANFF -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won't soon forget his 50th birthday.
Kennedy, in Banff this past weekend to co-host the Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational, was front and centre at Saturday night's gala awards dinner at the Springs.
More than $500,000 was raised at the awards dinner in support of Kennedy's charity, Waterkeeper Alliance, the world's fastest- growing environmental movement.
A half-million dollars is a great 50th birthday present to be sure.
But perhaps one has to be a Kennedy to have a stunning star sing Happy Birthday.
That's just what happened when the impossibly beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones, co-host of the three-day sporting event, took to the stage to serenade a delighted Kennedy.
Guests paid $275 each for the opportunity to get up close and personal with dozens of Hollywood stars, including Academy Award-winner Michael Douglas, Robin Williams, Fran Drescher, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Nicollete Sheridan, Tom Arnold, Peter Fonda, Lorenzo Lamas, Michael York, Corbin Bernsen, David Hill, Cris Judd, Michelle Phillips, Richard Dean Anderson, and Miss U.S.A. Susie Castillo.
Several deep-pocketed guests paid $8,000 for a Gold Circle table for 10 that included seating with a celebrity.
Nomadic Pictures' Chad Oakes hosted just such a table with Bernsen as the added star power.
"I often think of the U.S. as the 13th province of Canada," said Kennedy during his lengthy and passionate address.
A bad throat didn't prevent Kennedy from addressing topics as varied as capitalism, God, asthma and fish.
"Alberta suffers from air pollution ... from certain ministers," added the environmental attorney and activist in a not-too-subtle jab at Lorne Taylor, Alberta's environment minister.
For many guests, the highlight of the evening was Williams' hilarious 20-minute impromptu set. This hotel looks like the Hyatt on steroids," quipped the much-loved actor.
And impersonations of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson and even Jean Chretien were vintage Williams.
No need for producer-evangelist Marjoe Gortner to warm up the crowd after Williams was finished, as guests were clearly in a spending mood and bid furiously on 24 live-auction items.
More than $350,000 US was spent by the well-heeled guests in little more than an hour.
A four-day Italian stay in the Palzzo Ducale, the castle-home of Italy's famed Montaltos family, garnered top dollar from Americans Mary and Steven Swig, who paid a cool $35,000 US for this glamorous package.
And more than 115 silent auction items, ranging from a Shania Twain outfit to Seinfeld scripts, topped up the coffers of Waterkeeper Alliance.
A concert featuring Jackson Browne had guests dancing until well after midnight. And for the real party animals, it was off to the Hoo Doo Lounge for a private after-hours party.
http://www.canoe.ca/CalgaryNews/cs.cs-01-12-0003.html
:D