Wahoos founders join to fight Cystic Fibrosis

B.W. COOK

The 11th annual La Dolce Vita raised $96,500 to benefit Cystic

Fibrosis of Southern California. More than 300 local guests converged

upon Antonello Ristorante at South Coast Plaza Village for an evening

under the stars, which also honored the founders of the very popular

fish taco chain known as Wahoo’s. Wing Lam, Ed Lee, Steve Karfaridis

and Mingo and Cindy Lee, all founders of Wahoo’s, attended the

evening and helped to raise an impressive sum to fight CF.

RACE FOR THE CURE

The Susan B. Komen Foundation of Orange County raised an estimated

$1.5 million at its 12th annual Komen Race for the Cure, which took

place in Fashion Island last week.

Nearly half of the money raised came from corporate sponsorship,

with the balance coming from 25,000 entrants who participated in the

5K run/ walk, which is one of the world’s most organized fund-raisers

for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

The 2003 Race for the Cure organizers held a VIP reception at

Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa to thank many of the corporate sponsors.

Co-chaired by Barbara Purks and Marie Blash, with support from

Heather Gilbert, Steve and Jane Hill, Kelly Hill, Sharon Turner, Fern

Plett, Lorrie Tuerk, Jim and Betty Winek, and Shelli Winek, the party

was a tremendous success.

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

WINE TASTING

The Arthritis Foundation savored some exceptional wine at the

Village Crean on Newport’s Back Bay. The Orange County/Long Beach

branch of the Arthritis Foundation invited 20 outstanding wineries to

participate in a massive tasting on the grounds of John and Donna

Crean’s antebellum-inspired mansion.

Guests were treated to the culinary preparations of chef David

Warren Coplin while sampling wine from such purveyors as Robert

Mondavi, Caymus, Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, Hunter Hill, Bargetto,

Parker and MacMurray.

Spotted in the crowd were Jeanne Moriarty, Richard Moriarty and

his fiancee, Lauren Blackwood, and co-chairs of the event Katheryn

Burton-Gray and her husband, Glenn Gray.

Also on hand was Roger Cohen, father of Olympic skater Sasha

Cohen. Representing the Arthritis Foundation, Bob King and his wife,

Connie, greeted the some 150 patrons in attendance. The evening at

the Crean estate raised approximately $40,000 to support the

Arthritis Foundation.

CHRISTMAS COMPANY

Get ready for Christmas Company. The 28th annual holiday

fund-raiser and shopping extravaganza sponsored by the Junior League

of Orange County debuts this evening at the Orange County Fairgrounds

and Exposition Center.

The massive opening night party, whose theme this year is “Flip

Flops and Formals,” will start the holiday shopping bazaar, featuring

fabulous food, music, dancing and first come, first serve access to

the Christmas Company shopping.

Last minute tickets are still available. Go to

https://www.JLOCC.org for more information.

If you can’t make the opening night gala, the shopping

extravaganza will run Sunday through Wednesday, and will feature more

than 80 venders offering every imaginable holiday item. There will be

a number of special events during the run, including the very popular

American Girl fashion show and planned luncheons with VIP guests.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.