Heading out to the fifth ‘Roundup’

B.W. COOK

The fifth annual “Ranchero Roundup,” a benefit for the American

Cancer Society, attracted an enormous crowd at the Orange County Fair

and Exposition Center in Costa Mesa this past Saturday evening.

The party, also known at the Cattle Baron’s Ball, was produced by

a special 100-member volunteer committee associated with the American

Cancer Society of Orange County. Since the Cattle Baron Ball

premiered in 1999, more than $2 million has been raised to “stomp out

cancer” in Orange County.

This year’s gala was chaired by Stacy Brower and Sharon Esterley.

Some of the committee chairs deserving tremendous thanks are Margo

Ferris, Larry Davis, George and Micki Rach, Ron Rubino, Randy Moore,

Kent and Carol Wilken, Bruce Yolken, Bobbitt Williams, Donna Bianchi

and Joyce Weiss.

The Western-themed event began with a VIP reception to thank

sponsors and underwriters. Cocktails followed at by 7 p.m. Major

party attractions were the pig races, casino games, silent and live

auctions, a shoppers’ boutique and dancing, dancing, dancing until

the party ended. Food stations for gourmet grazing were set up all

over the party, as the Newport-Mesa crowd strolled in their best

Western attire.

The title sponsor of the evening was PacifiCare Health Systems

Inc. Major underwriting also came from Julia and George Argyros,

Shirley and Eric Pepys, Jim and Kay Burra, Sandi and Doug Jackson,

Kathy Baker-Campbell, and Bill and Loraine McCune.

The Cattle Baron’s Ball is a massive community effort made

possible by tireless volunteer support. The auction alone is nothing

less than a full-time job. Auction chairs Connie Cruz, Noreen Sturges

and Lorena Goodin deserve tremendous thanks, as does their very

dedicated committee, for attracting so many generous donations.

Broadcaster Ed Arnold of KOCE-TV was once again on hand to lend

his talent and support to the American Cancer Society.

Also in the crowd were American Cancer Society regional staff

members Jay McCullough, Dena Horne, Jennifer Horspool, Bruce Vancil,

Gail Robson, Germaine Cameros and Ann McDowell. Members of the Cattle

Baron’s League executive board lending support were President Sandra

Jackson and Vice President Leslie Bowlus.

For more information on how to get involved with the American

Cancer Society, please call (949) 261-9446.

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In other cancer news, the Queen of Hearts Foundation hosted its

first Tux and Tennies Tennis Tournament at the Newport Beach Tennis

Club. Patrons wearing a combination of black tie and tennis attire

came together to raise funds for ovarian cancer research.

USC tennis coach Dennis Leach and local tennis celeb Mary Philpot

were honorary chairs of the tournament, which featured all levels of

play. More than $25,000 was “netted,” with more than 450 people

attending the tennis party. Local restaurants generously volunteered

serving appetizers, dinner and dessert to the crowd. Others involved

were tournament Chair Dennis Claus and Dale Skiles.

Local winners on the court were Mark Smith, Carol Davinroy, Adam

Kranson and Terry Macoline.

The Queen of Hearts Foundation was founded in 2000 in the memory

of Ann S. Dobbie, who lost her life to ovarian cancer. The

organization has raised more than $350,000 to date to fund research

to find a cure.

For more information on the Queen of Hearts Foundation please call

(714) 744-3414.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.