"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: Jessie James and Tiger Woods at Phoenix Party?
“Welcome Tiger Woods and his dogs,” called out the announcers at the luncheon to benefit the Arizona Humane Society. “Welcome Jesse James and Sandra Bullock and their dogs,” they proclaimed.
“And welcome Beyonce and her dog,” they announced as Beyonce’s music accompanied the lady in shimmery gold strutting down the runway.
O.K. so it wasn’t really Beyonce, the R & B singer with the velvety voice (a three-and-a-half octave vocal range to be exact). Nor was it the other superstars. It was Miss Arizona Brittany Bell.
But oh the rumors we could start – especially while the paparazzi is going crazy trying to get pics of Jessie James in Wickenburg, Arizona – who is allegedly there at an addiction treatment center.
It was Mrs. Arizona Melanie Britton and her dog as Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. And it was Keith Gapusan as Tiger Woods. Yes, the parade of “stars” is part of the successful draw of this annual fundraiser, “Compassion With Fashion.”
Costume co-chairs Patty Withycombe and her daughter Lauren turned emcees for the afternoon and dressed as Lucy and Ethel, introducing the 21 “stars” and their pets.
The theme was “famous couples.” Mike Higgins and his dog Sparkles came as Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio. Steve Martori and his dog Louie came as Anna Nicole Smith and billionaire hubby J. Howard Marshall.
The Superstars
The animals at the luncheon, which were up for adoption, were hailed as superstars by the crowd of 900 guests. Prior to lunch, guests had the chance to mingle with the featured adoptable dogs and cats, and prospective parents put their name into a lottery drawing (for $10 tickets) for each pet.
The parade of adoptables is another precious and rewarding part of this fundraiser – which was chaired by Susan Wissink, Daryl Weil and Beryl Hassig.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, TV- Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She's a former TV-Reporter who's written for publications such as TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
