B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Sylvia Burnett did it again. The irrepressible founder of Christmas

Tree Magic, Burnett pulled out all the stops this holiday season,

attracting a sold-out crowd of some 600 guests for her annual charity

fund-raiser.

More than $100,000 was raised by Burnett and her crew, consisting of

committee members Sharon Williamson, Donna Andert, Nancy Benedetti, Maile

Lindley, Shirlee Heidler, Karen Royer and Nancy Valeri.

The holiday funds will go to four most-worthy benefactors: Children’s

Hospital of Orange County, Orange County Ronald McDonald House, Make a

Wish Foundation of Orange County and United Cerebral Palsy of Orange

County.

Created in 1990, Christmas Tree Magic has meant help for the

disadvantaged children of Orange County. The party, held earlier this

month, is the focal point of the fund-raiser, displaying magnificent

Christmas trees decorated to the max, which are valued at between $2,500

and $7,000. The proceeds from the sale of these trees go to the charities

sponsored.

The super tree decorators included Michael Bauer, Hayley Heidler, Jan

Timblin, Julia Higgins, Sally Hicks, Del Langdale, Dennis Jones, David

Brian and Christen Tawa. Generous folks sponsoring the trees were Mike

and Marcy Birney, Mike and Linda Kelly, Sharon and Roger Williamson, and

business owners DLS Builders, A Christmas Angel, Burnett Cos. and Tom’s

Truck Center.

Underwriting the affair for Burnett were Donna and John Crean,

stepping up to the plate along with Scherry LaMarche, Larry and Sharon

Holmes, Harry and Sylvia Stevenson, Marie and Stephen Tygh, Douglas and

Georgia Ingram, Mrs. Gene Widdicombe, Isuzu Motors, Sanwa Bank and the

Montessori Schools of Irvine.

Special recognition goes to master of ceremonies Ed Arnold, auctioneer

Charles S. Dreyer and the Los Alamitos High School Show Choir, who

volunteered to entertain the luncheon crowd amid the magnificent trees.

Over the past 10 years, Christmas Tree Magic has donated more than

$400,000 to numerous children’s charities in Orange County.

Congratulations, Sylvia Burnett. You are living proof that one person

with a dream can make a difference.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.