Emerald Dream Ball

1 st Annual Ball of Emerald Dream Foundation

The Emerald Dream Ball was a very personal event for me. My long-time clients,
Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs, co-founders of The Emerald Dream Foundation, hired me to plan the first annual charity event months in advance. I was also responsible for suggesting this year's charitable cause since I, myself, am a Breast Cancer survivor of eight years. My clients, the Fuchs, generously and enthusiastically embraced the idea. Once the 13 winners/breast cancer survivors were randomly chosen, each lady and a guest were flown to fabulous Las Vegas for a week filled with spa treatments, hair and make-up appointments, gown fittings, and many more luxuries to prepare for their ultimate experience: a New Year's Eve Ball dedicated to honoring their perseverance, courage, and survival through such a tumultuous ordeal. Attached are links to a multitude of articles and interviews, as well as comments from the “Emerald Ladies”, as they came to be known by myself and Mrs. Fuchs' team of incredibly talented people.

The Emerald Dream Ball was devised not only to raise awareness and fundraise for Breast Cancer, but also to celebrate the lives of these wonderful individuals and allow them the experience of royalty. My sincere hope is that everyone who attended this Amazing event, especially our honorees, will remember it for many years to come.

As for me, forgetting is not an option. I spent a month away from home planning this spectacular event. On the single occasion when I did manage to get away, I flew home to Chicago for only 36 hours during which I had to pick up specialty linens from my warehouse and ship 40lbs. of black caviar to Vegas for this epic event. Mrs. Fuchs and I spent many sleepless nights reviewing the menus, décor, contracts and various other details for the main event, New Year's Eve, as well as a private dinner being held the evening before for 100 people at the Fuchs' residence. Attendees of the dinner included the entire Emerald Dream Team, the media, the honorees and their guests.

Moreover, for the first time in my 27+ years in the event planning business, I found myself in awe of my client, as well as thankful to be part of such a grand event! Certainly, I have planned charity/fundraising events before, and many events with much higher budgets, but for the first time it felt real since the “Emerald Ladies” were right there alongside us. To witness the ladies shed tears of joy for being honored, and sorrow for lost time stolen by the disease, knowing exactly what they've been through made it all the hard work worthwhile.

Being generous and thoughtful hosts, Lana and Victor Fuchs decided to host a dinner the 30 th of December, the day before the grand Ball, at their personal residence. The honorees were treated to a day of final gown fittings, make-up and hair trials and the party was just what they needed to relax before the big day. Though, when the Fuchs' came to me with this idea for a “small” get together of 100+ guests on the eve of the biggest party night of the year, I made sure to explain how difficult, if not impossible, it would be to find an available chef and catering staff in Las Vegas-a city hosting over 300,000 tourists over the course of the holiday weekend! The family Fuchs, however, does not find much use for the word “impossible.” A wonderful, available chef was indeed located. Semen and his wife were flown in from New York the Tuesday before and by Sunday, December 30 th we had an amazing dinner prepared. R.S.V.P. Rentals, who I've used many times before, provided chairs, tables, plates, glasses and anything else we needed.

I began setting up at six o'clock the morning of December 30 th and continued straight through the evening's festivities wrapping up the day's work at 2 a.m. the next morning. As physically and mentally straining as this line of work seems, nothing beats the rush. During this event, not only was I the planner, but it was the second time in my career that I also took on the role of MC- Master of Ceremonies. I have come to believe every Event Planner/Bridal Consultant should do it at least once as part of the curriculum for becoming successful in this industry. We are always behind the scenes making sure the event runs smoothly as per the clients' wishes, but the MC is responsible for the “front of the house.” It is the MC's duty to insure the entertainment and other important moments of the event occur as scheduled meanwhile maintaining the level of excitement in all those in attendance. And though I make sure to watch the guests of this and every event from “behind the scenes,” it is undoubtedly easier to do so from the MC's post.

Rarely during an event do I eat or even sit. For over twenty-seven years I've been working on a steady diet of Tonic water and adrenaline, and this event was one of my greatest challenges. December 31 st was a long workday: about twenty-eight hours in all. My staff and I were hurriedly finishing the final touches: stuffing six hundred gift bags; preparing the Gala Programs (created by Mrs. Fuchs' talented designer, Mark); setting up the silent auction (with generous contributions from several companies, individuals, and great artists such as Misha Lenn); setting the mood of the room with eight large vases adorned with flowers, crystals, candles and gold ribbon; and much more. The Rio Hotel staff was wonderful and incredibly helpful. Two of the staff, Andrea and Terry, suggested we use our pink dazzle napkins in the shape of pink ribbons in keeping with the theme of the Ball. Everything came together beautifully.

The Emerald Dream Ball was a great success! I am very proud to have poured my heart and soul into the planning of such a grand, charitable event. Lana Fuchs designed all the costumes, the theatrical performances, and of course our lucky Emerald ladies' gowns. She and her husband, Victor, are two of the most giving individuals with whom I've had the honor and privilege of working and I will look forward to collaborating again soon.