Party-Goers, Donors Live It Up, Raise Money Hollywood Style

By Mauricio Minotta

Nearly 500 Alumni members and friends attended the annual Dance Party at the Marriott University Park hotel in Tucson. The event included silent and live auctions, which this year brought in a total of $21,000.

Items that were donated and bid on included GIA’s new digital-circuitry microscope signed by G. Robert Crowningshield, which John C. Boden and Donna Hawrelko won with their $5,000 bid. That was followed with the night’s second highest bid of $1,700 by Michael Goldstein for a week-long trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. An additional $900 was raised for a signed John Koivula photomicrograph print titled Spiny Urchin, won by Linda K. Horrell.

The evening’s total was raised to $31,000 with a matching $10,000 gift from Barry S. Block, president of The Jewelry Judge and the Association’s New York Long Island Alumni chapter.

“Barry’s commitment, effort and generosity to GIA and our alumni is exceptional,” said Jerry Buckley, director of Development for GIA. “He truly inspires others with his leadership.”

Consistent with the evening’s Hollywood theme, many of those in attendance dressed as their favorite Tinseltown star. The theme was highlighted with the arrival of a real Hollywood actor, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who signed autographs. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Tagawa has appeared in “Pearl Harbor” and “Mortal Kombat” and starred opposite Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes in “Rising Sun.”

– Photos by Jim Wood, © GIA.

Mckenzie Santimer, curatorial assistant
for the GIA Museum, takes center stage
on the dance floor.

Starla Turner presents Patrick Ball,
director of education Training (right),
with an award for his years of
dedication to the Alumni Association.
Also pictured are (from left) Richard
Drucker and Jon Phillips.

Kari Schumacher, G.G. (left), helps
Alumni Manager Rose McKenna
during the 50/50 drawing.

Hollywood actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
signs autographs for fans.

Partygoers mug for the camera. Amy Toosley (from left), public relations coordinator, Stuart Overlin, associate
editor for Gems & Gemology, Kimberly Northup, manager
of Career Services, and Tara McKenna, associate editor
for The Loupe.

Mona Lee Nesseth (left), who was honored
earlier in the evening for her In-Kind Gifts,
dances with Michael Goldstein.

Debbie Ortiz (left), G&G's subscription supervisor,
and Jeff Schneider, who donated a week-long trip
to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for the Live Auction,
attend the party dressed as swashbucklers for the
Hollywood-themed event.