All That Glitters Bucs superfan Keith Kunzig earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's fans wing thanks to his alter ego, Big Nasty.
Now Kunzig is helping nonprofits earn extra dollars by auctioning off the opportunity for fans to join him at Bucs games, replete with the zig-zag face point and rhino-horn hard hat he has made famous.
At the All That Glitters wine tasting and auction Sept. 27, Kunzig's invitation earned a bid of $400 for the MacDonald Training Center. The top prize was a Parisian trip, which earned a bid of $2,450 from Tampa's Doug and Laura Wyatt.
Others in attendance: former University of Florida and NBA star Dwayne Schintzius; Tampa Renaissance general manager Jim Bartholomay and his wife, Karen; Mr. Florida Phil "The Jamaican Tank" Clahar; Rex and Vicki Sano; MacDonald Center chief executive Jim Freyvogel; and MacDonald director of external affairs Veronica Prostko.
The event netted $40,000 for the training center.
Ernest Hooper, Times Columnist
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Endless Summer
Gab Patterson fought back tears of gratitude at the second annual Endless Summer fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Sept. 26.
Patterson, whose son Stratton deals daily with the challenges of cystic fibrosis, chaired the event, which drew a number of people whose families have been touched by the disease. What pleased Patterson most, however, were those who lent support even though they have no connection.
Attendees enjoyed the music of DJ Coz at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, which organizers transformed into a swank club.
The event's live auction raised close to $25,000, including a $5,500 bid for two Super Bowl tickets donated by the Glazer family.
Revelers included sports agent B.B. Abbott, art gallery owner Susan Baisden, Realtor Toni Everett, pulmonologist Mark Rolfe and Dana Young, my Tallahassee homegirl.
Ernest Hooper, Times Columnist
IFF's Party Like a Film Star
The air conditioning was on the fritz at the Independents' Film Festival's "Party Like a Film Star,'' but cinema devotees barely noticed as they enjoyed Karen Brown's Hollywood party scene. The mother of aspiring filmmaker Garrett Brown, a sophomore at Blake High, decorated with movie posters and Oscar statues. She also started a celebrity caricature contest at the Education Channel's Willow Avenue annex Sept. 18. Bennigan's of Channelside donated food and prizes. Artist Art Maynor donated his caricature talent.
A handful of the 50 guests came dressed as movie stars, including Evan Lobalbo, who stayed in Matt Damon mode all evening.
Best of the Fest prizes were awarded the next night at Tampa Theatre by executive director Ann Goldenberg and board president Kari Goetz. That concluded nine events in six days.
The 15-year-old IFF accepts submissions in any genre and any length from emerging and established filmmakers from around the world. About 225 were received this year. All "official selections" were simultaneously televised and Webcast on the Education Channel.
HARC Festival of Fashions Georgette's of Old Hyde Park Village marked its 20th year in the celebrity fashion show biz with its fifth annual Festival of Fashions benefit for Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Center (HARC) on Sept. 25.
Mother-daughter owners Georgette and Tashia Diaz razzle-dazzled the 375 guests with an hourlong circus of chic and sexy styles on media models Gayle Sierens, Jen Holloway, Gayle Guyardo, Jennifer Hill and Cathy Unruh, among others. But the applause meter heated up for Lauren Dungy, Plant High mom and wife of former Bucs coach Tony Dungy.
Dancers in colorful circus costumes romped and clowned between wardrobe changes. A lion tamer led a parade of animal print dresses, jackets and accessories. A sequined ringmaster and feathered showgirls kicked off a 50 evening gown finale.
"From the sublime to the sophisticated," said emcee Stacie Schaible, WFLA-Ch. 8, reminding the crowd, "Georgette's is relocating, not closing," and that HARC would receive 10 percent of purchases made that day.
HARC CEO Richard Lilliston announced the opening of the Jackie Loto & Georgette's Dance Studio at the new Center for Life Development in Egypt Lake, named for the long-time supporters.
Tampa Bay Rays senior adviser Dick Crippen's auction included a full-length raccoon coat, Outback Bowl tickets, and a custom-made suit from Bespoke & Co. tailors, modeled by Mason Kahn, 10, of Westchase Elementary.
Earlier, in her welcome, Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita spoke of the county's investment in HARC's vocational, residential and social programs for adults with disabilities. "Schedule a tour,'' she urged.
Events
Monday: I Will Survive fashion show benefits the Spring of Tampa Bay; 10:45 a.m.; victim and volunteer models; Renaissance Hotel International Plaza; $75; 247-5433, ext. 325.
Oct. 10: Fur Ball benefits Big Cat Rescue; 6:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $150; 889-7244.
Oct. 11: Broadway Ball, Rat Pack Live at the Sands, benefits the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; 6 p.m.; Morsani Hall; $600 and up; 222-1037.
Oct. 11: National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Gala honors Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff to benefit MOSI YES team; 7 p.m.; Museum of Science and Industry; $100 per individual; $175 per couple, 987-6077.
Oct. 11: Sixth annual Hearts of Fire Gala benefits Muscular Dystrophy Association; creative black-tie; 6 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $250; (727) 712-8200.
Oct. 11: Cocktail and Jazz to benefit Eichenholtz Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Awareness; 7 p.m.; Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd.; $60; 833-1625.
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