Around Town: Gala raises $1.6 million for cancer research
City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, presented its first Orange County gala, “Let’s Be Frank About Cancer,” on Saturday at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.
The event honored cancer survivor Frank Di Bella and City of Hope doctor Sumanta Pal for their dedication to finding a cure for cancer. Guests included Gov. Jerry Brown and former Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panic, founder of Costa Mesa-based ICN Pharmaceuticals — now Valeant Pharmaceuticals — and MP Global Enterprises and Associates. Comedian Jerry Lewis was a scheduled guest but did not attend because of a cold.
The black-tie affair raised more than $1.6 million to support Pal’s research, which focuses on how cancers develop and metastasize, how to better predict cancer recurrence and how to improve treatments.
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Sixth-grader wins essay contest
Michelina Nguyen, a sixth-grader at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Costa Mesa, won the state Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest, the school announced Tuesday.
The award comes with a cash prize, medal and certificate. Michelina’s essay, “A Child’s Journey through Ellis Island,” is now entered in the national Daughters of the American Revolution essay competition.
Before the state competition, Michelina won the Newport-Mesa Unified School District essay contest, which was presented for the 50th year by the Col. William Cabell chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, based in Newport Beach. Each year, more than 300 students in the district compete in the contest.
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Dresses, shoes sought for Belle of the Ball
Donations of gently worn dresses and accessories are being sought for the Belle of the Ball, which is being presented March 28 by Orange Coast College, Girls Inc. of Orange County and the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.
The eighth annual event at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa will provide a dress, a pair of shoes and accessories for 250 girls and young women ages 16 to 19 that they can use for prom, graduation and other ceremonies. They also will attend workshops on body image, etiquette and makeup. A guest panel will include KNBC-TV/4 Orange County bureau chief Vikki Vargas, airline pilot Jaynine Warner and Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez, according to a news release.
The organizations are requesting short or long formal dresses, shoes, jewelry and purses in ready-to-wear condition. Donations can be dropped off by 5 p.m. March 13 at the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, 1575 E. 17th St., Santa Ana (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays) and at Embassy Suites, 2120 Main St., Irvine.
For more information, visit https://www.belleoftheball.org.
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South County Outreach announces board
South County Outreach, a nonprofit organization that provides hunger and homelessness prevention services, has seated its new board for 2015. The members include Newport Beach resident Dennis Kuhl, chairman of Angels baseball.
Irvine-based South County Outreach provides a food pantry, counseling and assistance with housing, utilities and rent.
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‘Whimsical’ paintings on display at JWA
Italian-inspired “whimsical” works by Orange County artist and curator Cheryl Bookout are being exhibited in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal at John Wayne Airport.
The works, on display until April 16, are part of JWA’s Community Focus Space program.
“As a child, I spent hours alone in my room staring at the images John Tenniel created for ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ making up my own stories to match the fantastical drawings,” Bookout said in a statement. “The characters in this exhibit’s paintings are inspired by the history of Carnival in Venice, Italy.”
From staff reports