The Annual Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation Luncheon honored Ruta Lee with this years Angel of the Year Award on Feb 20th at the Doral Desert Princess Resort. The event was filled with Vendors selling every thing a woman could want, a Live Auction of fantastic trips,a Silent auction, a Raffle, Entertainment and delicious food.
Actress Ruta Lee has been a long time supporter of Angel View. The story most told is when Ruta Lee bought a treasure at one of the Angel View Thrift marts only to discover it was one of the items she had donated to them a couple months earlier. Ruta has had many roles in movies, On television and Broadway. In films she has acted with Tyrone Power, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn to name a few. She has been on broadway in such roles as Peter Pan, Annie Get Your Gun, Dolly, and Mame. She has been involved with The Thalians for over 45 years. Ruta is a true humanitarian. She loves to shop for bargains and finds many unique items at Angel View Thrift Stores all over the desert.
Mary Ann Mobley was the emcee for the event with Dr. Martin Russell as Chairman and Master of Ceremonies was the President of the Angel View Board, Mel Haber. The late Jackie Lee Houston was the Honorary Chair and a tribute was made to her long standing support and service to Angel View.
Other Awards given at the Luncheon were Bobby Patmore’s Employee of the Year for Excellence that went to Sarah Mauia-Shirey and the Jackie Lee Houston Angel View Client of the Year 2012 to Jacob Ibarra.
Entertainment was provided first by pianist Bill Marx and then by the Desert Youth Ballet group with a Special guest performer, Angel View Client, Marie Quintero. Rich little did an amazing routine of imitating many presidents and hollywood personalities.
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The Tribute speaker was Hollywood Commentator Rona Barrett. Last Years Angel of the Year 2011, Barbara Sinatra, gave this years 2012 Angel of the Year award To Ruta Lee. Frank Furino did an excellent job as auctioneer for the live auction items.
Ruta Lee has spent her life in show business and many of her friends arrived to celebrate the day with her. Some of them included, Alex Trabek, Connie Stevens, Shecky Green, Rich Little, Steve Rossi, Jack Carter, Andrew Neiderman, Anne Jeffreys, Frankie Randall, Florence Henderson and Gloria Greer to name just a few of the A list of celebrities that attended in her honor.
The luncheon ran a little over the allotted time as all of her friends wanted to say a few words about Ruta. Ruta sang a couples songs to entertain all the guests. She used a red feather boa as she danced across the stage singing. Ruta with her fabulous voice never needs a microphone, so she says. Ruta was accompanied proudly by her husband of many years Webb Lowe.
