"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: How did a power player surprise guests at the John C. Lincoln dinner?
When Donald Brandt took the podium at the “Night of Gold Ball”, not even his wife Ginger knew what he was about tell the 700 guests. But the announcement was electrifying and had RENEWABLE ENERGY!
Not only is Donald Brandt the CEO of Pinnacle West and CEO of the utility giant Arizona Public Service, but his announcement was the catalyst for others in the audience to react! The powerful CEO related the emotional story of an APS employee who was mauled by pit bulls while checking meters on the job. The employee’s survival story is one of the many miracles from inside the Level 1 Trauma Center at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital. So on behalf of Pinnacle West and APS, Donald Brandt announced a $10,000 donation for the Trauma Center and that he would match the next two $10,000 donations. The ballroom at the Camelback Resort lit up, with his then $30,000 donation generating a total of $50,000.
The auctioneer for the evening then asked partygoers to raise their auction paddles for the “Fund –A-Need” and donate more dollars to the Trauma Center- resulting in a total of $212,000.
Dr. Raun, Helen Davis Melmed and Dee Dee Friedlander
This popular black-tie event, now in its 42nd year, is a spring tradition hosted by the John C. Lincoln Health Foundation Guild. Chair Dee Dee Friedlander and her committee created a Casablanca ambiance for this year’s gala, with an “As Time Goes By” theme. Guests strolled into the party through the doors adorned with neon lights and the “Rick’s Café Americain” sign. (No, it wasn’t named for Rick Friedlander, Dee Dee’s attorney husband, it was inspired by the Casablanca movie.) David and Joan and Kathryn Lincoln were among the VIPs on the guest list.
The silent auction included tickets to the Jay Leno Show and signed memorabilia from some of the stars of the popular HBO series Big Love (including Bill Paxton and Chloe Sevigny).
Jerry and Dana George
Dana and Jerry George went home with the auction item for $2,000- the shopping spree at a Westcor mall. The shopping trip (for which the money is earmarked for the John C. Lincoln Breast Health and Research Center), starts with pink Champagne and a limo escort. Following the shopping spree there will be spa treatments at Bliss Spa.
Dr. Charles Goldstein
Dr. Charles Goldstein had the highest bid for the auction package that boasted a skydiving venture in Eloy and a chance to hit the track in a race car at Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Rick Friedlander at Rick’s Café
Proceeds from the entire gala, which are expected to net over $500,000, will help fund benefit many of Lincoln Health Network’s programs and services.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
