YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
Locals Courtney Cox-Arquette and Candy Spelling can get down right creative when it comes to raising money. They joined other high-profile A-listers like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Britney Spears, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz and put their artistic skills to the test for a celebrity auction at Sotheby’s.
All were given carte blanche as well as a pencil and paper and asked to design a one-of-a-kind heart-shaped pendant to be made by the country’s leading jewelry makers, thanks to Platinum Guild International’s Women with Heart. Proceeds from the stars’ stylish creations would go to the charity of their choice.
“Do you like it?” queried Kirstin Davis while showing off her sparkling ruby necklace. “I designed it after 9/11 for the firefighters.” But New York’s bravest weren’t the only beneficiaries in this group.
Barrymore came up with a heart-shaped choker to help abused and abandoned children, Cox-Arquette fashioned a heart-shaped cut-out for the Breast Cancer Program at UCLA and Dunst had a red, white and blue combo made from diamonds, sapphires and rubies to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
The well-clad guests sipped champagne and nibbled on caviar as they admired the 22 original pieces on display. The paparazzi stood elbow to elbow as celebrities sauntered in and on-lookers struggled for a better view. A few in the crowd, however, could have used a crash course in Hollywood 101.
“Who’s that?” inquired one young fan. “Nobody,” was her pal’s response. “Just Tori Spelling’s dad, whoever that is.”
Once inside, Davis got the auction off to a successful start, telling the assembly, “I wanted my heart to be bold to show how our hearts had grown since Sept. 11.” Davis was flanked by two firefighters from Engine 23 and Ladder company 3, representing her charity. She vowed to match the winning bid, dollar for dollar. The $9,000 top bidder not only captured Davis’ heart, but got a big smooch from the sexy “Sex and the City” siren.
Zeta-Jones’ bauble brought in the night’s highest bid-her creation sold for $21,000. As the evening wrapped up, Platinum Guild President Laurie Hudson thanked each of the 22 celebrity participants by saying, “They remind us how our hearts can change the world.”
HEARTS OF GOLD
While the Platinum Guild was giving hearts, Whoppi Goldberg was getting one. Ms. G. and Tammy Ader were honored by the Foundation for Cardiovascular and Transplant Research and received the group’s Heart of Gold Award. The two executive producers of the Lifetime network show “Strong Medicine” were lauded for raising awareness toward organ donation. Proceeds from the event will go toward UCLA’s research and donor education programs.