The Crowd

B.W. Cook

From home and garden tours to presidential visits, the local crowd has

been on the run for a number of causes. In the past week alone, the

Newport-Mesa crowd raised millions of dollars to benefit various causes.

These include the annual “Art of Dining” fest at the Orange County

Museum of Art, Newport Beach; golf tournaments at Pelican Hill for

children’s charities; celebrity chef dinners at Share Our Selves in Costa

Mesa to aid the homeless; and a gathering of local USC alumni raising

scholarship funds at an annual luncheon.

And that’s just in one week. If statistics were available for the

annual tally of charity fund-raising, as well as the economic impact on

the business community given all the related event-staging and

expenditure, Orange County (Newport-Mesa in particular) would surely rank

on top of any number of lists.

This, in spite of the fact that some experts in this field report the

community has the ability to give more and do more.

Actually, and perhaps more correctly stated, we as a community have

room to bring into the social realm of benevolence many more citizens who

may have the ability to participate.

And that too is happening. Take for example the recent Corona Del Mar

luncheon held at the oceanfront estate of Susan and Henry Samueli to

benefit Orangewood. Susan Samueli formed a society of 44 women who have

the desire and the ability to impact the region given their financial

position.

Some of these ladies are newcomers to philanthropy.

The doors are wide open for new ideas and new ways to make a

difference. A few seasons ago, the name Samueli was unknown. Thanks to

the incredible success of Broadcom, a company they cofounded, there is a

new voice in town with the ability to make things happen. And this is

just the beginning.

One of the most important aspects of life in this pocket of paradise

is the freedom afforded the generous of heart and wallet. Yes, Newport

has a bit of the old guard mentality. However, it is quickly overshadowed

by a policy of welcome to anyone who has the desire to participate.

In this way, we are actually very democratic and fair. OK, we also

attract plenty of shady characters as well. And from time to time we

suffer from our policy of not asking too many questions.

Yet, whatever embarrassment may surface, far more good results from

inclusion as opposed to snobbery.

So let’s revel in our good fortune and pay homage to some of the good

folks who put on their best clothing and wrote some handsome checks to

make Newport-Mesa and Orange County a living, breathing sector of the

real and vibrant American dream.

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

CUTLINES:

1. From left, Newport Beach residents Alison McCormick, La Verne Francis,

Anne Wortmann and Marlo Scott raise a hand in support of USC as the

Trojan League of Orange County gathers for its 30th annual luncheon

benefit in Orange County. This year the group honored the USC Dance

Theater Program.

2. Debi, Lindsay and Tom Pavlik at the Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes

Research Education fashion show held at Fashion Island Newport Beach,

which raised funds for adolescent diabetes. The Pavlik’s daughter,

Lindsay, was diagnosed with diabetes as a child and the family works to

help others in similar circumstances. Padre is affiliated with Children’s

Hospital Orange County.

3. From left, Betty Harline, Gwen Znerold, Corinne Black and Betty

DeFreece are members of the Camelot Chapter of the Guilds of the

Performing Arts Center. Gathering in the “Aloha Spirit” for their annual

patroness tea at the Cameo Shores home of Cheri Harris, some 130 honored

women celebrated their patroness status with the Camelot Guild.

4. The Girl Scout’s Orange County Women of Distinction luncheon honored,

from left, Christine Shingleton, Jean Watt, Margaret Gratton, Connie

Matsui and Devera Heard. The event, held at the Irvine Marriott,

attracted more than 200 local women.

5. State Representative Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach) and his wife flank

former first lady Barbara Bush and former President George Bush at the

recent world affairs dinner held at Chapman University. The gala dinner,

chaired by Newport’s George and Judie Argyros, raised money for the

university.