B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

All around good guy and man-about-town John Perrine, general manager

of The Center Club in Costa Mesa, is one of those super on-duty dads

involved in his children’s activities in the Newport-Mesa school system.

Perrine serves as president of the Newport Harbor High School Basketball

Boosters, and he reports that Head Coach Larry Hirst, along with parents

and volunteers, are busy organizing the upcoming George Yardley Summer

Cage Classic set for July 6 to 8 at Newport Harbor High School.

The basketball tournament, named for Newport’s most famous basketball

player, George Yardley, will recognize Yardley’s continuing contribution

to the community as a role model for young players. To get involved with

this worthwhile project, call Perrine at (714) 926-6373.

* * *

The Roosters, a group of local “bad boys” intent on doing good, have

announced a special upcoming event set for Sept. 29 at the Sutton Place

Hotel in Newport Beach. The group of 100 prominent and colorful

businessmen in the community have secured the talents of singer/actress

Lorna Luft, the youngest daughter of Judy Garland, to perform her

acclaimed nightclub show titled “Songs My Mother Taught Me.”

The evening will feature a 19-piece orchestra and will be highlighted

by an emotional duet between mother and daughter courtesy of the magic of

video. It seems that Deana Martin-Griffith, daughter of the late Dean

Martin, is a big fan of the Roosters, and was so impressed with their

fund-raiser last year that she helped them secure Luft for the September

show.

The event is actually billed as Monte Carlo Night 2001, and the

Roosters are expecting more than 400 guests to attend the evening, which

will also feature live and silent auctions, dinner, dancing and charity

gaming. The Rooster’s foundation goal is to raise money for children’s

charities in Orange County.

Tickets to this exceptional gala range from $125 to $225 and may be

reserved now by calling Craig Boardman at (714) 832-5669.

* * *

Human Options, one of the important organizations in the Newport-Mesa

community, recently held its Leadership Circle of Friends 2001

Reconnection Dinner. The evening honored donors who contributed $1,000 or

more to Human Options during the past year, providing incalculable

assistance to Orange County victims of domestic violence.

Vivian Clecak, co-founder and executive director of Human Options,

offered, “Our donors give not only dollars to support the program, they

give us their trust and inspiration. Most importantly, they have enabled

thousands of women to begin a new life.”

Clecak was joined by Marcia Jager, president of the board of directors

for Human Options, in hosting the evening, which featured a performance

by STOP-GAP. This interactive theater company is an award-winning

organization that uses drama as an educational tool. For more than 10

years, STOP-GAP has provided weekly dramatic workshops to Human Options.

In the crowd, honored for their generosity, were local Human Options

supporters Marilyn Gianulias, her charming mother, Nora Hester, prominent

Lido Isle resident Elieen Weinberg and Meredith Khachigian.

Human Options is based in Costa Mesa and Irvine, and provides a number

of services, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, community

education programs and a 24-hour hotline ([949] 854-3554). For more

information on Human Options, call (949) 737-5242.

* * *

The Children’s Bureau Clambake, sponsored by our local angels John and

Donna Crean, was a smashing success last week at the Hyatt Newporter.

More than 350 guests joined the Creans to help raise more than $70,000

net for the children and families served by the Children’s Bureau in

Orange County.

Shari Ciko Brown, co-chair of the evening, was overjoyed at both the

response of the community and the financial success of the evening. Brown

was joined by fellow chairs Lana Chandler and Eve Kornyei in welcoming

the local crush.

Newport Coast couple Sally and Randy Crockett joined Jill and Mark

Bolton, Carleen and Michael Brennan, Susan and Butch Christianson, Bob

and Peggy Clay, Donna and Blaine Collett, Sarah and Michael Corrigan,

Betty and Ron Dominguez, Santa Ana BMW dealer Don Crevier with his date

Lauri Kraus, football legend Vince Ferragamo, Darby and Bill Manclark,

Denise and Brian Mock, and Gloria and Ray Osbrink.

* * *

Correction: The Crowd erroneously reported that the late Mary Lou

Hopkins Hornsby and her friend Mary Ann Wells were the founders of the

charitable group known as the Fashionables. In fact, the late Mildred

Mead founded the group. Mea culpa.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.