The Crowd: A boost for Big Brothers Big Sisters
In the realm of charity, there can be no substitute for the positive response to personal, one-on-one interaction between those in need and those who serve.
There are countless charitable pursuits that raise much needed funds for good causes. Those fortunate enough to donate and get involved turn out for functions with peers, yet few roll up their sleeves and interact with those in need. In no way does this diminish the value of their support; however, you might simply characterize such giving as “arm’s length.”
Then there are organizations which are more appropriately labeled as “hands-on.” In Orange County and around the nation, one such well known group is Big Brothers Big Sisters. In our own community Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County is justifiably proud of its success.
In 2014, every single young boy and girl mentored by a big brother or sister in Orange County through their adolescence graduated from high school, according to the group. More significantly, the vast majority entered some form of further education with most attending a college or university.
Last week in Newport Beach, the Angelitos de Oro, a volunteer women’s auxiliary in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters gathered in the Bayfront Commodore Room at the Balboa Bay Resort to celebrate the phenomenal success of the organization. The annual spring luncheon, now more than 50 years running, acknowledged the donations exceeding $5 million raised by Angelitos underwriting Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.
Chaired by dynamic, new active Angelitos members Suzanne Desforges, Natalie Pickup, Catherine Sloan and Wendy Thompson, the afternoon by the bay brought together generations of dedicated members as the torch was passed to the next wave of socially responsible women, many of whom are busy raising families of their own yet are acutely aware of the need beyond their own circumstance.
On hand to welcome the arriving crush, the stunning platinum blond Kathy Harrison, president of Angelitos joining Melissa Beck, CFO of the Big Brother organization. Angelitos has a long and loyal history of support in the community and many of the organization’s past presidents were front and center for the confab. Among the VIPs were Trish O’Donnell, Pam Howard, Jana Hackett, Laraine Eggleston, Kate Eastman, Moira Auld, Gigi Spragins, Lois Tingler and the gracious Mary Anna Jeppe.
The Balboa Bay Resort staff, under the leadership of General Manager Sam El-Rabaa did an exceptional job serving Asian salmon salad with a demitasse of tomato bisque. Enjoying luncheon by the bay were Angelitos movers and shakers Marilyn Wooten, Pam Schmider, Darby Manclark, Pat Allen, Betty Woodford and Ann Rainey.
Sampling the decadent molten chocolate cake were Angelitos Marilyn McIntyre, Judy Montgomery, Sandy Perlmutter, designer Ann Dennis, Nanette Mayo and Barbara Cline, to name only a few.
The highlight of the luncheon speakers was a young man named Omar Sosa, selected as the “High School Big” of the year. High School Bigs mentor elementary students after school once a week. Sosa’s personal struggle and path to success touched those in attendance, reinforcing the purpose of the organization and the key importance of the role of mentorship in changing the lives of young people living in disadvantaged circumstance.
“Raising money is important, don’t get me wrong, but the impact of a role model showing interest, guidance and love to a young person is invaluable in life,” Wooten said.
Volunteers mentor youth at least once a week on a personal meeting basis, and some have been involved for many years.
Harrison presented a $10,000 check to Beck who in turn praised the group for their unwavering support. Each year, in advance of the holiday season, in partnership with South Coast Plaza merchants, the Angelitos sponsor a shopping card, which is sold at any South Coast Plaza Concierge, entitling the bearer to substantial discounts on retail merchandise and dining options at hundreds of participating merchants.
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Raise Up For Ben Carlson
The Balboa Bay Resort will be a hot spot June 3 when the A&O Kitchen+Bar in the hotel opens its doors to the community for a night honoring fallen Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson, the only lifeguard in the department’s history to sacrifice his life while saving another person.
The evening is a no-cover charge, no-reservation necessary gathering that will be chaired by resort ownership represented by Devon Martin joining John Wortmann, chairman of the board of governors of the adjacent Balboa Bay Club. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Ben Carlson Fund earmarked for the eventual erection of a statue honoring Carlson and all of Newport’s dedicated lifeguards past, present and future.
“We hope the community turns out in force for this event honoring Ben,” Wortmann said. “It is particularly important given the long history the Balboa Bay Club has with raising kids to be water safe through 60 years of swim team, and sending boys and girls to junior guards with many of the BBC swimmers eventually becoming lifeguards themselves.”
The June 3 evening begins at 6 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. The entire community is welcome. For more information, call the club’s Aaron Trent at (949) 630-4382.
THE CROWD runs Fridays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
