The Crowd: CHOC dinner is the stuff of Legends
Orange County nonprofits are joining the celebrity-infused bandwagon in greater numbers. Having a recognized accomplished talent front the local O.C. gala not only adds flair and excitement to the party, it brings in donations. And sometimes, if not often, the generosity can be mind-blowing — as in six and even seven figures.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County will present the super-talented John Legend in concert at its annual charity dinner slated for Feb. 7 at Newport Beach’s Island Hotel. The event is billed as the “CHOC Cherishes Children Gala,” with the subtitle “Our Legacy Is Caring.”
VIP honorees at the 2015 evening will be Julia and George Argyros and the Argyros Family Foundation for their phenomenal financial support of CHOC’s emergency medical department. The party starring Legend will be sponsored in part by Harry Winston.
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A hole-in-one for eight charities
The Shady Canyon Golf Club Charitable Foundation raised an impressive $160,000 at a holiday benefit that will grant funds to multiple local nonprofits. Organizers called the effort part of their “year of giving” philosophy. 2015 marks the third year the foundation has made such a commitment to the community.
The overriding mission is to assist families and children in crisis, including the homeless, the aged, and displaced and abused children, as well as promote the significant importance of education and literacy, financial responsibility, and job training and placement.
A Dec. 19 dinner at the posh Shady Canyon Golf Club brought together foundation advocates Jennifer Condas, Lisa Gibson, Ann Moore, Tim Patten, Trish Scarborough, Sharon Valli and foundation Chair Reid McCartney, presenting $20,000 grants to deserving organizations.
Recipients include Age Well Senior Services, Blind Children’s Learning Center, Higher Ground, Intervention Center for Early Childhood, KidWorks, Miracles for Kids, Share Our Selves and Fristers.
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Making a difference for foster youth
Friends of CASA, an auxiliary of Court Appointed Special Advocates, produced its annual 2014 holiday luncheon and fashion show Dec. 10 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort.
The net amount raised is expected to top $200,000, in great part because of the generosity of sponsors including Don and Soogie Kang and corporate donors Lugano Diamonds and Microcemi.
The event attracted attendance in excess of 500 guests and began with a champagne reception followed by a luncheon and fashion show presented by MaxMara. Chaired by CASA board member Patty Juarez — who was joined by a committee of some 60 dedicated volunteers, including Elizabeth Carpino, Colleen Davidson, Tiffany Foster, Maria Gallegos, Kathryn Grant, Sara Guggenheim Jarrett, Lori Jackson and Molly Jolly — the afternoon event was a success.
Also supporting the CASA effort were Sandi Marino, Kimberly Matties, Holly Valentino, Janice Wald, Jaynine Warner and Tracy Wiegand, to name only a few. Highlight of the event, in addition to the fashion show, was an address by keynote speaker Debbi Swerdlow, who has mentored a physically disabled foster youth in association with the CASA program.
Swerdlow inspired the crowd, expressing her ongoing commitment to supporting her young friend and advocating for foster youth. “I am for the child,” Swedlow repeated, emphasizing the CASA mantra and call to action.
THE CROWD runs Fridays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
