The Crowd

B.W. Cook

The stage was set. A white tent, stately and handsome, fronted the

upscale Fashion Island department store. Rust-covered urns in the

Grecian-style sent forth tall white stems of blooming Gladioli, which

graced the entrance.

White-painted chairs lined the interior of the tent, formal and

symmetrical. The stage crew finished the final lighting and sound

technicalities for the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa’s evening at

Bloomingdale’s, Newport Beach.

The Assisteens fashion show for 2000 was taking its final shape as guests

arrived at the front door. On the opposite end of Bloomie’s, the glass

doors swung wide open welcoming Assistance League members, guests and

supporters who were coming to Fashion Island after hours Sunday evening

to dine a midst the merchandise, and then to preview the Assisteen

Fashion Show in the adjacent tent.

Julie Dill and Terry Duffield co-chaired the evening, making sure that

every detail was handled with appropriate style. Upon entering the store,

champagne was served by Assistance League volunteers. Food stations,

provided by generous underwriters such as El Torito Grill, The Ritz,

Pasta Bravo, Haagen Dazs and Starbucks served the tailored-looking

Newport-Mesa crowd as they mingled in costume jewelry, shoes, cosmetics

and handbags.

At the Ritz station, Charlene Prager, wife of Ritz founder Hans Prager,

worked with her staff serving the famous Ritz mushroom cappuccino soup.

Patrons devoured the delicacy as fast as Charlene could serve the soup.

“You’re working so hard,” commented one individual in line waiting for

the gourmet broth. “Oh, we’re hardly working,” responded Charlene with a

smile. It was the sort of unselfish attitude that was apparent this night

for the Assistance League.

Westcliff/Dover Shores’ longtime resident Rita Gunkel sat at one of the

tables, which was draped in black cloth to the floor. The cloth was set

up in and around the store during the cocktail and buffet hour. An ardent

supporter of the Assistance League, Rita served the local league dental

center for nearly 20 years, acting as a volunteer. She was joined by her

daughter, Laurie Veitch, and granddaughter, Sarah Veitch, two more

generations serving the Assistance League.

The evening was also about heritage and passing the torch of community

service. There were many more examples of families in attendance

represented by multiple generations of givers.

“We have always been about inclusion,” Gunkel said. “The Assistance

League opens its doors, its arms, to all who wish to participate. Our

work in the community is not based on status or financial ability to

donate. We are about joining forces to help the less-fortunate.

“Sometimes that means we don’t make the most money, or have the grandest

events, but they are always in good taste and open to all.”

Several hundred Sunday-evening guests who skipped the Oscar telecast to

participate would surely have agreed. This was an event in which a great

deal of love and hard work went into creating a first-class fashion show

featuring the Assisteen Stars of 2000.

Comprised of 20 young women, graduating seniors from local schools who

have served the community for four years or more, the fashion show

introduced them to the community as a kind of pre-show in advance of

their debutante presentation to follow.

The impressive group of accomplished teens includes Amy Angelo, Marissa

Becker, Christine Bogenrief, Tracy Brown, Nicole Charney, Kimberly

Christensen, Claire Duggins, Jessica Edwards, Margaret Fluor, Kathleen

Ganiere, Mindy Gayer, Signe Hillyard, Ashley Jacobson, Katharine Massrey,

Ellen Orbe, Alexandra Robinson, Allison Schneider, Catherine Stockstill,

Lindsay Stump and Jean Trinen.

The show -- a production created and staged by Robin Sanders and Janet

Terrell, with tremendous assistance provided by Jim Sanders, Todd

Summers, Cheryl Butterworth, D.J. Davis, Christian Cox, Sara Davenport,

Steffani Foxcroft, and the entire Bloomingdale’s team -- showcased each

young model with a video presentation of her life including an audio

overlay from each girl expressing her values and her appreciation for her

mother, grandmother, and or primary adult role model.

Then, the fashion parade of Bloomie’s clothing hit the catwalk to super

fashion runway music. The young ladies were joined on the catwalk by male

escorts/models. The young men were also from local schools. Gary Chinn,

Ryan Cook, Brady Flynn, Garrett Gentry, Brett Lawrence, Jimmy Sanders,

and Jason Owen made the most of their moment in the spotlight.

Additional league members deserving ink include Lori Barrato, Marilyn

Pope, Cynthia Crahan, Lula Halfacre, Jean de Vries, Hanna Skjonsby, Mary

Lynn Turner, Linda Becker, Alison McCormick, Laurie McKenzie, and

mistress of ceremonies Marilee Schneider.

So many more should be listed as the event was a success due to

tremendous volunteer input. Spotted in the crowd were Dottie and Bill

Feeney, Marion Pickens, Patti and Jim Edwards, Bernice Edwards, and the

glamorous Hette and John Robinson.

In the end, it was an evening far more rewarding than “The Academy

Awards.” In fact, this event was full of real “American Beauties” --

young women with substance and style, destined to attend many of the

nation’s leading universities to follow ambitious paths into serious

careers such as medicine, international relations, politics, and finance.

* B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.