La Dolce Vita > January 2007

Representing the 2007 TCF recipient charities were, seated: Michael Olsen, Florence Crittenton; Diane Marie Crew, Neighborhood Ministries; Kristin Bradfield, GIFT; and standing, Lisa Schmitt, New Song Center; TCF executives Diane Might and Pamela Covella, and Jan Chisum, AFFCF.

Winter is always coldest for those with no warm memories. However, this cold January will prove to be serendipitous for the Trends Charitable Fund. 2007 will mark the largest grant beneficiaries in the history of the TCF. This is due in full to the amazing generosity of this fine community and the enormous amounts of money raised at last season’s TCF Celebrity Luncheon and Beat The Heat. Both events sold out and now countless under-the-radar charities that benefit women and children in need will prosper. This year, $430,000 was awarded to the following in-need Valley charities: Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK), Growth Improvement for Female Teens (GIFT), New Song Center for Grieving Children & Those Who Love Them, Neighborhood Ministries, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation and Florence Crittenton. Wow, that’s a mouthful! We plan to raise even more money again at this year’s TCF luncheon, set for Thursday, April 28, at The Phoenician and Beat The Heat, which will kick off the 2007-08 social season Friday, Oct. 5 at its a new location, The Arizona Biltmore. You’d better be there!

The merrymakers who attended the lavish Heart Ball can reminisce about the wonderful time they had at the pristine bash. Sadly, the first thank you party that accompanied the ball left its most jaded partygoer with a bitter taste in their silver-spooned mouth. It just goes to show you that some people new to wealth can buy anything in the world but class. Enough said – we never should have had to address this in the first place. Our community is one of the finest in the nation, and those that put their heart and soul into such a beautiful event should not have had to suffer though that awful party. Yet, the night was also noteworthy for its heartfelt moments. 2007 Heart Ball Chair Susie Wesley announced two of the fairest maidens in the land, Shelley Adams and Sarah Cheek, will serve as ball vice-chairs while Carole Moreno is the 2007 Sweetheart. In addition, Nan Howlett was named chair-elect of the 2008 Heart Ball. Back to the thank you party, Cionne McCarthy stole the night in head-to-toe leopard with pumps to match. And David Gustafson spent the evening searching for Edgar Bergen’s lap, since he came dressed as a Charlie McCarthy doll. We’ve also had unconfirmed reports that past ball chair Libby Cohen was spotted breaking in to Jane Christensen’s estate shortly before the grand ball and stealing the designs for Jane’s gown. You may have noticed Libby’s ball gown was extremely similar, just a different color. Many claim they witnessed Libby jogging through Jane’s neighborhood dressed in a black velveteen windsuit she barrowed from Suzanne Eder and carrying Jane’s dress pattern strapped to her fanny pack. We also suspect Libby may have passed the same dress design along to an unsuspecting Kathleen Lang. Did you also hear that beautiful Charlene Berge-Blum was almost eaten alive the night of the ball by an escalator at The Phoenician as she tried to leave? At first we just assumed Charlene’s trademark country-western blonde mane was somehow sucked into the moving stairs but guests who witnessed the disaster apparently saw her black Oscar de la Renta gown engulfed by the escalator. Thank God lovely top interior designer Brenda Heuring was on hand to pull the emergency stop lever on the contraption, sparing Charlene life and, most importantly, her designer gown. Oh well, now Sylvia Danese of Danese Creations, the incredibly talented clothing designer, can restyle the gown into a cocktail frock. Maybe Charlene should call Libby Cohen for advice on the gown since she’s so familiar with dress patterns lately. After all, the two ladies have been inseparable since they worked together with Carole Machiz back at The Clotherie in the 1980s.

This month, Trends introduces our new food writer, Karen Dawson. Many of you knew Karen when she owned the award-winning Ruby Beet Gourmet restaurant or from her work for the Bon Appetit Celebrity Golf Invitational and Getting Our Just Desserts. We’re very excited to have such an accomplished foodie on our team.

Speaking of the 1980s, you should also know that 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of Trends Magazine. To our readers, who now measure more than 45,000 homes, we wish to say a huge thank you for your continued patronage.

Last fall, this Valley lost one of the true empire builders in our community. Sam Kitchell passed to the heavens, completing one the finest lives a man could live. He founded Kitchell Contractors in 1950. Today, the employee-owned corporation is now the largest builder and fifth largest privately held companies in the state. In 1969, Sam founded Doubletree Inns and went on to support the philanthropic community in a boundless frenzy. Shortly before his passing, Sam and his wife, Betty, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary with their five children. Sam Kitchell left an indelible mark on the state, one that continues to prosper. He will be greatly missed.

Gotcha