California may be a blue state, but at the Shoah Foundation's Ambassadors for Humanity dinner honoring Bill Clinton in Los Angeles, the hue of choice was presidential pink. Warm rose-colored light bathed the stage of a tent on Brownstone Street on the Universal Studios back lot near the offices of Amblin Entertainment, the production company of Shoah's founding chairman, Steven Spielberg. Dotting the stage were panels covered in brown-and-blue, mod graphic patterns that hinted at 60's style, while chandeliers with pink lampshades dangled overhead and pink gerbera daisies sprang from square white boxes on the tables.
"We wanted it to be presidential, but not too old-fashioned, presidential and sophisticated," said June Beallor, Shoah’s founding executive director, who planned the party with event coordinator Robyn Leuthe, Chip Sullivan of DreamWorks, and event producers at Silver Birches.
The evening presented some unusual challenges for planners. One was heavy rain, always a stunner in sunny Southern California, which delayed some guests because of power outages and street flooding. At the party site, organizers placed canopies over the walkway leading up to the main tent, where 750 dined on La Cuisine's wild salmon with beurre blanc sauce.
The other challenge involved responding to special security requirements of the Secret Service. “Mainly it had to do with making sure we had a very clear plan of action and we stuck to it," Beallor said. "They're used to running on military time. When you're dealing with the president, you can't change your mind. The Secret Service won't let you."
—Irene Lacher
Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
"We wanted it to be presidential, but not too old-fashioned, presidential and sophisticated," said June Beallor, Shoah’s founding executive director, who planned the party with event coordinator Robyn Leuthe, Chip Sullivan of DreamWorks, and event producers at Silver Birches.
The evening presented some unusual challenges for planners. One was heavy rain, always a stunner in sunny Southern California, which delayed some guests because of power outages and street flooding. At the party site, organizers placed canopies over the walkway leading up to the main tent, where 750 dined on La Cuisine's wild salmon with beurre blanc sauce.
The other challenge involved responding to special security requirements of the Secret Service. “Mainly it had to do with making sure we had a very clear plan of action and we stuck to it," Beallor said. "They're used to running on military time. When you're dealing with the president, you can't change your mind. The Secret Service won't let you."
—Irene Lacher
Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
The Shoah Foundation's Ambassadors for Humanity dinner honored Bill Clinton at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.
Shoah honored Clinton with a crystal award—but the heavy Secret Service presence challenged event planners.
