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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2008

Updated: 10/13/2008 10:45 am

Brooks, Mehra Hailed For Work Benefiting Children

About 300 guests attended the seventh annual Champion for Children awards ceremony and dinner Oct. 2 at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza in Tampa. The dinner, the signature event for Voices for Children of Hillsborough County Inc., the fundraising branch of Guardian Ad Litem, honored Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks as the 2008 Champion for Children for his work with youths, including The Brooks Bunch, Derrick Brooks Charities and Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in North Tampa. Tampa psychiatrist Rahul Mehra was presented with the Guardian Angel Award for volunteering for Guardian Ad Litem, the nonprofit agency that assigns volunteers to represent children who need help during legal proceedings. The evening, called "Old Havana Nights," raised more than $43,000 and featured an outdoor cocktail reception with cigar bar, a chance drawing for a collection of 60 bottles of wine donated by board members, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. The emcee was former Buccaneers offensive lineman Ian Beckles, a host on WDAE, 620 AM.

The Desserts Served As Appetizers
Girl Scout cookies were the inspiration for the delicious desserts served as a first course during the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida's fifth annual Dessert First dinner and auction Oct. 4 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg. Judged by Jeff Houck, food editor for The Tampa Tribune, and Ernest Hooper, a columnist for The St. Petersburg Times, the "Golden Whisk" was presented to chef Richard Bottini of Six Tables Tampa for his Guava Butter Tart with Dulce de Leches. The 190 guests picked the winner of the People's Choice "Silver Whisk" award, which went to chef Mike Moreland of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club for his creation, Cocoa Samoa. Following the sweet beginning, dinner was served and a live auction of unique items kept the evening energized. Guests could bid on camp scholarships for girls to build leadership skills and self-awareness, or on a camping trip with all the appropriate equipment for themselves. A "Cookies From Home" item was auctioned to send a taste of home and their personal message of encouragement to troops serving overseas. Chaired by Susan Churuti, the evening raised $50,000 for the Girl Scouts.

Leadership Awards Given At USF Women's Luncheon

The University of South Florida's Women in Leadership & Philanthropy program hosted its third annual Scholarship Luncheon on Oct. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, featuring presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. With News Channel 8 anchor Gayle Sierens serving as emcee, Community Leadership Awards were presented to WLP founding member and honorary chair Carol Morsani and founding member Pamela S. Muma. The event followed a leadership forum on "The Role of Women in the Political Arena," moderated by political analyst Susan MacManus, a USF professor of government and international affairs. USF President Judy Genshaft and volunteer chairwoman Linda Simmons greeted the 400 guests. Funds raised benefit the program's general scholarship endowment.

Text by MARIA JOHNSON;

Photos by MARIA JOHNSON, ROBERTA SCHOFIELD and LENORA LAKE

E-mail information on community and social events in the Tampa Bay area to mdjohnson@tampatrib.com or mail it to Scene & Heard, c/o The News Center, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa, FL 33606.

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