THE CROWD:Philanthropists receive community service awards

Newport’s Bob Waltos of Northwestern Mutual/Waltos Group has been named “Outstanding Volunteer” by The Northwestern Mutual Foundation.

The national community service honor comes with a $10,000 grant, which Waltos will donate to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern California.

Ed Zore, president and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, commented: “We recognize the importance of our representatives being involved in community service.”

Since the award program began in 1995, Northwestern Mutual has donated some $2 million to its representatives, benefiting more than 200 nonprofits nationwide. Waltos, his family and his business associates have taken an aggressive, hands-on approach to fighting Cystic Fibrosis, specifically helping children in Orange County.

Waltos served as the 2005 Southern California CF president, overseeing more than 60 fundraising events that added close to $6 million to the search for a cure.

In other men’s society news, The O.C. Barons’ Gentlemen’s Club, a local volunteer group supporting The American Cancer Society Orange County Region, gathered in advance of the upcoming Oct. 21 Baron’s Ball.

The pre-event fraternity gathering unfolded at The Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin at the invitation of owner Dick Marconi. The guys lifted a glass to fight cancer, surrounded by Marconi’s $30 million car collection, including a Schumacher F1 Formula 1 race car, the first auto that driver Michael Schumacher ever raced for Ferrari.

In the crowd were Newport’s Kent Wilken, Dick Waitneight, Bill More, Paul Gerard, Gary Douglas and Ron Rubina.

The 31st annual John and Donna Crean Reach Out Awards, sponsored by the YMCA, was scheduled for Friday night at The Hilton Hotel, Costa Mesa.

David Lamb of Newport Beach, an avid local sailor and longtime YMCA board member and volunteer, was set to be honored by the sold-out dinner crowd. Also on the list of honorees was Arnold Kleiner, president and general manager of ABC7 television, Los Angeles.

Marge Hearn, widow of the late legendary sports broadcaster Chick Hearn, was scheduled to be on hand to unveil the Chick Hearn Legacy Memorial Fund, an annual scholarship to be given to deserving young people. The Laker Girls were also set to drop in to give the evening a kick.

Special Olympics Orange County welcomed more than 50 athletes Friday morning for an annual roller-skating tournament. The competition included distance events ranging from 30 to 500 meters, depending on the ability of the competing athletes. Figure skating, freestyle pairs, singles and even solo dance events attracted a large supportive crowd cheering on the participants, who will go on to enter the Oct. 13 Special Olympics Southern California Fall Games in Fountain Valley.

Orange County philanthropists Rick and Nancy Swanson underwrote the roller-skating tournament. For more information about Special Olympics, call (714) 564-8374.

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