Benefactors of theater and arts gathered for the American Cancer Society’s annual Spring Gala at the Mandarin Oriental. Honorary Chair Libby Pataki joined event co-chairs Tricia Walsh-Smith and Michele Herbert in raising more than $600,000.

A balloon auction set the black-tie event in motion. Proceeds from each $650 balloon will be used to send a cancer-stricken child or sibling for a free one-week stay at Camp Adventure on eastern Long Island. This year, the balloon auction raised a record $110,000 (of the 170 purchased this year, 50 were bought by Ann and Herb Siegel).

Guests enjoyed dinner followed by a performance by Raul Esparza, who starred in the now-defunct Broadway musical Taboo.

Theater and film producer Marty Richards, a cancer survivor, received the Artistic Achievement Award from Shubert Organization Chair Jerry Schoenfeld. Humanitarian Awards were presented to opera star Anna Moffo and the then-ill and absent Tony Randall (who passed away shortly after this event) by Libby Pataki. Randall’s award was accepted by his wife, Heather, and friend Jack (The Odd Couple) Klugman, who recounted his own personal struggle with cancer. The Sheet offers our sincerest sympathy to the Randall family.

Fabulous $750-apiece goodie bags included Silhouette sunglasses, Estée Lauder fragrances, cookies, truffles, gift certificates, and more.

In the mix: Shubert Prez Philip Smith, Chuck Scarborough, Star Jones and fiancé Al Reynolds, Ahmad Rashad, Rue McClanahan, Patricia Neal, Miss USA Shandi Finnessey, Lesley Gore, Tina Sloan-McPherson, Henry Buhl, Betsy McCaughey, Lauren and Elliott Vernon, Joy Rosenthal, Ambassador (to the Netherlands) Barbara Sobel, Audrey and Enriquillo del Rosario, Ralph Destino and Ritchey Goodwin, Suzanne Mados, Neil and Leba Sedaka, Arlene Dahl and Marc Rosen, Anita Jaffe, Barbara Tober, Brenda and Howard Johnson, Maria Theresa Fauci, Gigi and Harry Benson, and Elizabeth Stribling and Guy Robinson.

An evening of hope and buzz!