Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Wish for the Stars

Share Your Heart Ball heads to Hollywood


Camp Rainbow Gold campers Clayton Anderson and Zoe Walker are introduced at the 2006 Share Your Heart Ball by host Rob Cronin, right. Photo by Dana DuGan

Make way for Hollywood. The glistening gloss of fantasy film land will arrive in Sun Valley for the fifth annual Share Your Heart Ball. Beneficiaries for the event are the American Cancer Society's Camp Rainbow Gold and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho.

Title sponsors are Coldwell Banker Conklin & Co. Ketchum-based Cancer Consultants is also a sponsor.

Because the event is held on the eve of the Academy Awards, the theme has been changed to reflect that there's a star inside everyone who contributes to the ongoing efforts of Camp Rainbow Gold.

Each year the event draws stars, from guests to auction items. But it's especially about the children from Camp Rainbow Gold for which the evening is all about.

Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. (for check-in) Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Limelight Room of the Sun Valley Inn. At 6 p.m. no host cocktails and the silent auction perusal period will get under way. Included in the price of a ticket are appetizers and dinner, champagne, wine and beer.

As in past years, there are remarkable silent- and live-auction items. For guests' dancing pleasure the band Grooveline will be back for more high-energy entertainment.

Handled by the exemplary emcee Larry Flynn, the live auction will include an array of smashing items donated by friends of the organization from across the country.

Of note are two VIP tickets to the "American Idol" finals. Another is a private poker party at your home, fully catered and hosted by the Poker Network. The winner also has a choice of one of the five top poker players in the world to play with "you and your buddies," said event organizer Rob Cronin. "How much fun is that?"

Or how about a golf trip for two to St. Andrews in Scotland, flight and lodgings included. Maybe you'd fancy a trip for two, flight and rental car included, to the Nicali Vineyards in Napa Valley for six days? Included in this latter adventure will be a tour of the valley in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes. Well! Sounds like one could enjoy a great deal of wine tasting that way.

"Of course, there will be the heart stirring moments and surprise guests," Cronin said. "It's simple and elegant" (though tuxes aren't required).

The Limelight Room will be decorated in Hollywood style by Sun Valley residents Jennifer Dies and Kathy Crosson.

Camp Rainbow Gold began in 1984 as one of the first children's oncology camps in the U.S. Run by Idaho's American Cancer Society, in conjunction with St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute, the camp hosts an average of 75 children, all diagnosed with cancer, for a free week of outdoor activities, sports, art, music and camaraderie. It's held at Cathedral Pines Baptist Camp, 12 miles north of Ketchum on the Big Wood River.

Make-A-Wish is a national foundation that grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases. The majority of Idaho's "Wish" children are cancer patients and attend Camp Rainbow Gold.

"All the money raised stays in Idaho," said Cronin, who is board member of the camp and of Idaho Make-A-Wish. "We have two local kids who had wishes granted this year. A video will be shown of one of their wishes made by his brother. It shows that Make-A-Wish money does stay local, too.

"This is really a culmination of the last five years. We've worked hard, and we've learned from our mistakes. I think people will see we've really matured as an event. My wife (Kris Cronin) is amazing. She's my hero. What she does for this ball—I can't even keep up."

For more information and tickets contact 877-405-9474.




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