Thursday, June 17, 2004 6:31 PM
For the first time this year, the Press Club is holding a silent auction featuring everything from an important oil paint- ing to desert or Maui getaways to “Lunch with Patt Morrison” to a huge basket stuffed with famous cosmetics— -all to raise money for the club’s scholarships in journalism and other new charity efforts.
Bids will be accepted at the June 12 annual journalism awards gala at the St. Regis Hotel. Detailed descriptions and some photos can be viewed at www.lapressclub.org. (But, so sorry, no photos of Patt!)
For journalists who love wonderful things but are on a budget, the great part about silent auctions is that you can buy gorgeous, expensive items and well-deserved trips and other luxuries, usually for one-third the price of their retail cost or even less—unless bidding for an item gets particularly hot and heavy.
This year, the Press Club is honored to have as one of its featured items a stunning work by the noted Irish- American landscape artist Maureen Gaffney-Wolfson. She has been collected by Frank Sinatra, President Bill Clinton, Red Skelton, Lisa Minelli and Irish leaders including former President Mary Robinson and President Mary McAleese.
In 1998, the Boston-born Gaffney- Wolfson was the first oil painter ever invited to exhibit at the International O’Carolyn Harp and Music Festival, where her exhibit was opened by Michael Smith, Ireland’s Defense Minister. Her works have been exhibited in the Higgings Gallery in Belfast, the Davis Gallery in Dublin and numerous other gal- leries throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Irish President McAleese has described her work as “containing incredible feeling and depth.”
Gaffney-Wolfson donated her piece, enti- tled, “A Day in the Countryside,” to the Press Club, as well as her collectible greet- ing cards, after being approached by club volunteer Phyllis Friedman, a writer who is also a volunteer with the Thalians.
Upon learning that the 2004 banquet will honor, among others, TIME magazine correspondent Michael Weisskopf and pho- tographer James Nachtwey for their brav- ery in Iraq, Gaffney-Wolfson wrote to Phyllis: “I felt very priveleged and honored” to be a part of the evening.
Meanwhile, for others interested in giv- ing, it is not too late. The Press Club is par- ticularly interested in adding final, small items to our Goodie Bags. All giving to the club is tax-deductible. A company’s logo may be imprinted on them. We need 450 of each item, and prefer small desirables such as calculators, watches, ballcaps, sample perfumes, sample cosmetics and luxury edibles. The items will be stuffed into the free Goodie Bags given away to each person attending the June 12 journal- ism awards gala.
Finally, you can still order tickets to the Press Club Awards dinner, or you can vol- unteer to help that night at our Silent Auction tables, ticket table or stuffing the goodie bags. To donate, buy tickets, or vol- unteer to do last-minute helping, please contact Diana Ljungaeus at (323) 469- 8180 or email her at diana@lapressclub.org.
Here are the items offered in the Press Club Silent Auction, listed with their retail value. Bring your credit card or cash, and bid away!
Oil Painting “A Day in the Countryside,” 30” by 48,” by Maureen Gaffney-Wolfson ($8,750)
Lunch for two with Patt Morrison (for 2) and a guided tour of Los Angeles Times (priceless)
Midweek escape, Two Bunch Palms ($850) Two nights, Maui Prince Resort ($650)
One night, deluxe room with breakfast for two, St. Regis Los Angeles ($600) Writing coaching, LA Times’ Bob Baker (priceless) Six-month membership, Sports Club LA ($1500) Digital Camera, Samy’s Camera ($270) Market bag, silk pillow and gift certificate, The Silk Trading Co. ($575) Gift certificate, The Silk Trading Co. ($500) Betty Grable statuette, limited edition #467 ($250)
Framed dolphin photo, Eppic Surf ($400) Gift basket, OPI cosmetics ($500) Handmade collector ’s pipe ($260) Three hours of interior design consulting, Vincent Jacquard Design ($900) Optimal photo lift rejuvenation, LA Skin ($360) Three hours of private training, fitness guru Lars Wallin ($255) Golf Lessons, golf professional Mel Glover ($200) Voice coaching sessions, Broadcast Voice ($100) One hour deep tissue massage, Maby at Soft Touch Chiropractic ($75) One hour private Pilates session, Bodyline Fitness Studio ($70) Satellite radio equip., installation, 1 yr. subscription, by Sirius ($300) Gift basket of bath products,Soul Scents ($150) Gift Basket from Get Fresh Gift Basket, El Torito Restaurant ($375) Gift Basket, Acapulco Restaurant ($375) Signed contest T-shirt, world’s strongest man champion Magnus Samuelsson Dining: Brentwood Restaurant, Ching Restaurant Signed books by: David Horovitz, Jonathan Kirsch, Eric Lax, Gina Nahai, John Stossel, Bob Baker
