WEATHERING THE OSCARS

Every watcher won

Successful Oscar party diminished only slightly by Mother Nature

Barry Brandt said, "I think Yogi Berra said it best. 'It's like deja vu all over again.'"

The meteorologist for KATV, Channel 7, was referring to the event for which he was again serving as master of ceremonies: Lights Camera Action, the Wolfe Street Foundation Inc.'s Academy Awards Gala. The black-tie Oscars watch party, held Feb. 22 at Chenal Country Club, was shortened due to sleet ... just as the 2014 version had been. So there was no live auction -- auctioneer Craig O'Neill was ill, anyway -- and dinner was moved up to allow guests to get back home.

But that doesn't mean a good time wasn't had, especially on the gustatory front. The evening's meal began with a Wolfgang Puck-inspired seafood appetizer and small salad, and featured braised beef short ribs. Shown on large screens, the broadcast of the 87th Academy Awards was interspersed with the gala program.

Introduced by Wolfe Street executive director Markey Ford, event chairman Kathy Swanson gave audience members a glimpse into the activities of the Wolfe Street Center, which provides facilities for support groups faithful to the original Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step Recovery Program and implements programs for recovering alcoholics as well as their families. Swanson became tearful as she told of the benefits she'd received from the center's Al-Anon meetings. "Wolfe Street was there when I needed it, and I want it to be there for others too," she said. Another volunteer also spoke about the benefits he'd received through the center: "The Wolfe Street Center was there for me when there was a single set of footprints in the sand," he said.

Event founder Rick Anderson shared brief memories of the "stormy" and "rainy" inaugural watch party held at his home and revealed that since its start, Lights Camera Action had seen a net profit of more than $1,500,000 -- "That's real money," he said.

Featured guest John Geenen, a Minneapolis motivational speaker and Jack Nicholson look-alike, was presented with an Arkansas Traveler award. Supporters of the Wolfe Street Foundation got mini-Oscar statuettes.

It may have hard luck weatherwise, but financially, Lights Camera Action came out a winner. Ford said it grossed $107,000 for the Wolfe Street Foundation and center.

-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams

High Profile on 03/01/2015

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