PEACH BUZZ: Gifts, vodka are generous at Toy Party

Judging by the jampacked parking garage, with cars tucked into every available nook and cranny, the sixth annual Toy Party at AmericasMart Building 3 was a huge success Sunday night. The annual toy drive, silent auction and holiday cocktail party is a benefit for 15 nonprofit organizations statewide that help children in need and their families, including Appalachian Children’s Emergency Shelter, Chris Rainbow Kids, Cobb Christmas Inc., Crossroads Foundation, Easter Seals North Georgia, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County and Youthpride.

While he’s been on the board since the benefit’s inception, this was organizer Frank Bragg’s first year helming the event as board president.

As favorable reports filtered into his earpiece, Bragg looked relieved as 400 volunteers stacked small mountains of unwrapped presents on the stage below him. The event drew hundreds of attendees into the massive space.

“I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights,” Bragg told Buzz. “Due to the economy, we’ve had some sponsors pull out or scale back. It’s remarkable that we have any sponsorships at all, given the times right now. Everyone’s been amazingly generous.”

The evening’s presenting sponsor was Delta Air Lines, and major sponsor Metrotainment Cafes generously donated $50 gift cards to every one of its metro Atlanta eateries, including the ever-popular Einstein’s and Cowtippers.

Our favorite silent auction item of the evening? A 3.75-inch action figure to be created in the buyer’s likeness (a $500 value) donated by Toy Party patrons Todd Vierling and Adam May.

Thanks to donations from Smirnoff vodka, the Georgia Beverage Association and a small army of bartenders, last year’s long lines for cocktails were ancient history.

Still, Outwrite Books owner Philip Rafshoon, a Toy Party event partner, came prepared this year. At the check-out of his Midtown business, small silver flasks were being sold to prospective Toy Party attendees.

Sure enough, Rafshoon himself had one filled with vodka.

Joked Rafshoon: “I wasn’t taking any chances!”

Toy Party organizers remain optimistic about the future. On the opening page of the silent auction catalog was the following message to attendees: “Mark your calendars for next year’s event Sunday, December 6, 2009.”

Finneran: ‘Destiny is in our hands’

Atlanta Falcon Brian Finneran was a mix of emotions when he called into Dave FM’s Mara Davis show Monday morning for his weekly report. He was bummed about the team’s disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints Sunday but happy he scored a touchdown.

“It felt good,” he said. “It’s been a while.”

Finneran was more focused, however, on next Sunday’s anticipated tough matchup against Tampa Bay in the Georgia Dome. “It’s one of those games we must win to keep us in the playoff hunt,” he said. “Right now, our destiny’s in our own hands. We really need the fans to come out.”

Despite Sunday’s loss, the healthy-again wide receiver had a nice surprise awaiting him at home that night. His wife Erin had finished decorating the family’s Christmas tree and had left it lit for him.

Sick bay update

Part-time Atlantan and former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Toni Braxton was MIA at last month’s finale of the popular ABC reality series. Tmz.com is reporting that it was due to yet another health scare for the singer. According to Tmz, “Braxton discovered a lump in her breast before she was set to appear on ‘DWTS’ and was told she had to have it removed immediately. Rather than have the surgery right away, Braxton chose to wait until after she was eliminated from the show.” The lump, Tmz reports, turned out to be benign. Braxton was said to be recuperating at the time of November’s two-night finale.

As Buzz readers will recall, earlier this year, Braxton was diagnosed with microvascular angina. The heart ailment prompted constant monitoring of the vocalist while she was on “DWTS,” and Braxton has said a cardiologist was on set whenever she performed.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actor Kirk Douglas, above, is 92. Actor Dick Van Patten (“Eight Is Enough”) is 80. Actor-writer Buck Henry is 78. Actress Judi Dench is 74. Singer Joan Armatrading is 58. Actor Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 56. Actor John Malkovich is 55. Country singer Sylvia is 52. Singer Donny Osmond is 51. Actress Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) is 46. Singer-guitarist Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers is 39. Incoming “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi is 38. Actor Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) is 30.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’ve been called ‘a dumb broad.’ And when that happens I say, ‘Barbara, what’s your problem?!’ “

“The View’s” Joy Behar on Monday’s show, seeking to defuse the tension after Elisabeth Hasselbeck criticized the Rev. Jeremiah Wright for calling her a “dizzy blonde” and “a dumb broad.” Barack Obama’s controversial former pastor made the insults from the pulpit Sunday. “View” den mother Barbara Walters gave Hasselbeck a supportive hug as they went into a commercial break.

Contributing: News services