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.
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