The Crowd: Sumos, cars and cash for ExplorOcean
It was the perfect night to throw your weight around.
ExplorOcean in Newport Beach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating students about the ocean, welcomed some 125 guests Oct. 17 to its first annual Sumo Night, held at the Crevier Classic Cars storage facility.
Guests of honor for the event were sumo wrestlers — one 600-pounder, two 400-pounders and one 200-pounder — world champions easily classified as giants of the human species.
The crowd went wild, the laughter infectious, as organizers including ExplorOcean President and CEO Tom Pollack and event sponsor Scott Pollard created a little visual excitement, encouraging the tiniest person to get in the ring with the wrestlers.
Suddenly the petite trio of Devon Wortmann, Mia Van Bergh and Tabitha Goff appeared, looking more like an appetizer for the sumos. With a bit of coaxing from the crowd, enjoying Nolet Spirits Silver Dry Gin martinis, Wortmann ended up in the ring doing a dance with one of the champions.
With a definite amount of grace, the wrestler permitted the diminutive blond Wortmann with her Lady Godiva-like, waist-length hair to bounce him off center and off stage. Wortmann took a bow as the audience cheered.
With guests dining on delicacies catered by The Winery Restaurant and bidding on some 200 silent auction items, ExplorOcean raised over $21,000 at its night in the ring. The money will benefit educational programs — focused on ocean life, preservation and conservation — that are provided to Orange County schools.
Donors in the crowd included Craig and GG Lyons, Jeff and Tracy Rowerdink with children Fallon and Blake, John and Ann Wortmann, Scott and Shawn Cunningham, Donnie Crevier, Ken and DJ Owen, Walkie and Janet Ray, Don Wise, Craig and Nancy Smith, and Dan and Linda Milleri. Also front and center for ExplorOcean were John and Diane Erskine, Tim and Sheila Collins, Matt and Nicole Paskerian, and John and Jennifer Drayton.
To learn more about the work of ExplorOcean, visit explorocean.org.
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There’s Money In The Moonlight
The Crystal Cove Alliance welcomed 400 beachcombers for a moonlit dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The Alliance was celebrating it 13th annual Moonlight Gala, presented by The Resort at Pelican Hill, recognized as Condé Nast’s No. 1 resort in the nation. More than $300,000 was raised at the sold-out gathering to protect and preserve Crystal Cove State Park.
As the sun fell, the crowd arrived on a bluff overlooking Crystal Cove. Hors d’oeuvres were provided by Fig and Olive, and a three-course dinner by The Resort at Pelican Hill followed, with entertainment by Brenna Whitaker, a protégé of music legend David Foster.
Founded in 1999 by ocean activist and former Crystal Cove resident Laura Davick, the Crystal Cove Alliance is a group focused on 3.2 miles of Pacific coastline and more than 3,700 acres of backcountry, as well as 1,100 acres offshore in the “underwater park.” More than 1.5 million people visit Crystal Cove each year.
Donors and sponsors supporting the preservation effort include Wendy and Rich Aversano, Wendy and Fred Slater, Mark Pomerantz, Tricia and Michael Berns, Joan Irvine Smith, Teddie Ray, Paula and Jeff Cole, Michael Ray, Pamela Schmider, and Sheila and Mike Lefkowitz, to name only a few. To learn more about the Crystal Cove Alliance, visit crystalcovealliance.org.
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The Gift of Literacy = The Gift of Life
They called the event “What Dreams Are Made Of.” The sixth annual Literacy Project gala attracted 200 guests and raised $125,000 to help provide a 30-hour reading program at no cost to struggling students in elementary schools all across So Cal.
Presenting sponsor of the event, held at Newport’s Island Hotel, was Wienerschnitzel, represented by CEO Cindy Galardi Culpepper. Receiving the Literary Dream Award, Culpepper joined fellow honored guest Jeannie Lawrence, chair of the evening, who received the Dream Maker honor for her leadership. Lawrence joined co-chair Lisa Torres in making the evening a major success.
As the crowd dined on a four-course dinner, a video produced by Lucas Film showcased the important message of the foundation, “bridging the literacy gap” among second-graders. Then, three recent graduates from the Anaheim City School District, all of whom participated in the reading program, joined mentors and role models on stage, sharing the importance of literacy in mastering life skills.
A major announcement came from Disneyland Resorts, which is granting The Literacy Project a $600,000 gift in honor of the resorts’ 60th anniversary.
Sue Grant, CEO and founder of The Literacy Project, commented, “Disneyland Resort has been a generous supporter over the year, but this grant will guarantee that hundreds more struggling readers will receive our program.”
Disney ambassador Jessica Bernard presented the gift to Grant.
Spotted in the crowd were Adrienne and R.J. Brandes, Ronna and Bill Shipman, Liz Hurley, Janie Merkle, Marian Bergeson, Tim Molnar, Brian Fargo, Monette and Steve Zolovich, and Dennis Kuhl and Michelle Hatch.
