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WILDLIFE WONDERS Silver and Goldfinch Gala and Benefit Auction
Photos © by Vicky Moon
Let’s just call this pure magic, as guests gathered in the gardens at the Museum of The Shenandoah Valley in Winchester for the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center gala. Entering the grounds, we followed a brick path and met a possum named Muffin, a white skunk named Mocha and a turtle named Shelly. All of this among the shimmering glass sculptures of flowers, insects and more on loan from artist Craig Mitchell Smith.
A recommended attire note on the invitation urged guests to “add magic to the night with your Silver and Goldfinch inspired outfits and feathered embellishments.” We spotted some spectacular innovations: dancing shoes of snake skin, a glittery dinner jacket evoking the sparkly look of the late great pianist, Liberace, and fabulous feathers galore.
A luscious buffet dinner came from Six Star Events at a table put together by our hostess, Lady Elinor Crane and included Sir Peter Crane, along with Sally and Sandy Wood, Osborne Mackie, George Kingsley and Karen Nutt.
Then, a very vigorous live fundraising auction/paddle raise courtesy of Brian Damewood of Damewood Auctioneers, along with sponsorships, ticket sales and donations yielded $400,000 for the Wildlife Center and a new pre-release rehab shelter located near Millwood. “It was their best gala,” one inside source noted. Dance music from Chaotic Blonde with a spectacular opening performance from board members Bethann Beeman and Cab Grayson followed.
Other board members spotted were Emily Ristau and Matt Sheedy with uber PR woman Vicki Bendure. Add to this: Anne Randolph and Tyson Gilpin, Jr. , Walter and Franny Kansteiner, Andrew Stifler and Mia Glickman with Jim Rich.
