Shapiro Shows, Tells

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What do Vanna White and the horrors of drug abuse have in common? Both were subjects of intense interest at the Summer Spectacular Under the Stars to benefit the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention. … Any similarities end there, because the intensity the foundation brought on the subject of drugs had only to do with getting rid of them as illicit agents that destroy lives and damage families and communities. … The intensity of interest in White had only to do with the “Wheel of Fortune” star’s status as the much-beloved First Lady of American game shows. … Word has it Bob Shapiro fielded an avalanche of calls from the A-listers at the fundraiser, which caught a perfect evening at the estate of Ron Burkle. Everyone, it seemed, wanted White at their table. … There were plenty of other celebrities with appeal to various age groups and interests, starting with honoree Demi Lovato, who’s gone from Disney child star to anti-bullying advocate to recovering addict whose gifted voice now rings in on the cause that Shapiro; his wife, Linell; and son Grant took up in the wake of the loss of son and brother Brent to overdose in 2005. … Another child star who’s grown up is Mario Lopez, who served as host of the event and had the look and tone of a fellow who’s getting to be more serious than handsome. … Anyone who doesn’t think they’re old might be getting there if they thrilled to the high-energy performance of David Lee Roth, who somehow managed to sell an art deco version of “California Girls” accompanied by Cleo and the Cletones of Jimmy Kimmel fame. Roth brought down the house – and he did it without a blonde in his scantily clad backup troupe. … The fundraising auction included a one-game shot to be a ball kid at a Lakers game, while the Dodgers offered up their home field for a private softball game. … A sweet coincidence that the Dodgers item raised the same amount – $25,000 – as a guest spot on Hulu with Larry King, who has done his time with dem bums from the bleachers in Ebbets Field back in Brooklyn to the best seats at Chavez Ravine in his adopted hometown. … Car buffs got a chance for a VIP package to the next Indy 500. … Football got plenty of play, too, as guests bid up a pair of tickets to the next Super Bowl, donated by Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis. … There was an owners’ box package from the New York Giants, which Shapiro parlayed into a matching gift from the Los Angeles Chargers – and the seemingly extemporaneous move gave a feeling that the newly arrived Spanos clan has a good chance of winning the marketing competition with the Rams. … Sullivan Says: There was a Ferrari and a role on “Ray Donovan” and all sorts of other goodies auctioned off, not to mention the fine meal and fashion turns – now please turn to page 71 and consider Shapiro’s case for the very real cause behind all the recent fuss and fun.

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