JIM DE BOOM -- Community & Clubs

The Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club celebrated its 40th

Anniversary with District Governor Danny Mayer and his wife, Lori; Vice

Governor David Stewart and wife, Eunice; Central Orange Region Chair Jim

North; and Past District Governor Mike Schaefer and his wife, Sandi, all

in attendance at a dinner meeting at Mimi’s Cafe in Costa Mesa.

“It was a full house,” said club president Ron DeGeare. Past club

presidents in attendance were called upon to share club projects and

services during their year in office. Ray Ott was officially inducted

into club membership by Stewart and Mayer. He was presented a

congratulatory letter from the international president and a 40-year

patch to be sewn on the club’s banner. Congratulations on 40 years of

service to the Newport-Mesa community!

SCHOOLS FOUNDATION GRANTS: More than 150 local teachers and

principals will be honored on Thursday at the Hyatt Newporter for

particularly innovative classroom projects.

The grants will be awarded by the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation, a

private organization established in 1981 to enhance education in the

Newport-Mesa School District. This year, with the help of many generous

local donors, the foundation will award more than $400,000 in grants.

These will go to teachers from each of the 29 schools in the district and

will fund programs in numerous areas, including the arts, science, math,

special education and social studies. The all-volunteer board has worked

hard this year to raise the funds and organize the grant readings and

awards dinner. The community has been exceedingly generous. In addition

to many kind and loyal personal donors, such companies and organizations

as the Boeing Charitable Foundation, Flour Foundation, Hoag Hospital and

Pacific Life Foundation have added a great deal to the pot.

This year three particular donors are participating in a new “Special

Projects Program” for the foundation. Harbor Boulevard of Cars has

donated $50 for every car sold. This money is for the purpose of

constructing an Olympic-sized pool at Costa Mesa High School and a

stadium at Estancia High School. A portion of it will pay for teacher

grants. Always a generous supporter of local arts, C.J. Segerstrom and

Sons has donated $25,000 specifically for arts related grants in Costa

Mesa High Schools.

The Irvine Co. will fund 27 Teacher of Excellence Awards at $7,500

each and three Teacher of the Year Awards at $10,000 each. Candidates for

these awards were screened and selected by representatives of the Newport

Mesa Federation of Teachers. The Donald Bren Foundation will award a

$15,000 Educational Enrichment Grant to each of the nine schools in the

district that educate students who live in Irvine Ranch communities. Each

school principal, in consultation with the school’s teachers and parents,

will be able to identify the school’s priorities for using these

educational enrichment grants.

NEED A VOLUNTEER?

If your group or organization is looking for volunteers to staff an

event or work on a community service project this summer, call Missy

Mittman at Newport Harbor High School. She is putting together a

directory of volunteer opportunities that will be distributed to all 9th

and 10th graders. It will be included in every PTA’s newsletter in June.

Today’s students need to complete 40 hours of community service as part

of their graduation requirements. You can list your needs by calling

Mittman at (949) 515-6385.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS: Chad Brown, sponsored by

Andy Campbell, who joined the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa; Ray Ott, who

joined the Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club; and Robert

Burns, Bob Golding and Art Gronsky who joined the Exchange Club of

Newport Harbor.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS COMING WEEK: Want to get more involved

in your community, make new friends, network or give something back to

your community? Try a service club. You are invited to attend a club

meeting this coming week. Many clubs will buy your first guest meal for

you.

TUESDAY -- 7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns Restaurant for a program by Donnie Dawson of the

Jamaica Tourist Board. 6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions

Club will meet at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.

WEDNESDAY -- 7:15 a.m.: The South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at

the Center Club, the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club and the Costa Mesa Orange Coast Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe. Noon: The Orange Coast Exchange Club will

meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting. 6 p.m.:

The Rotary Club of Newport Balboa will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club to hear “A Story of Healing” by Dr. Burns and Dr. Nichter of the

Plasticos Foundation. They will present their video that won an Academy

Award for Best Documentary (o7 http//:www.newportbalboa.orgf7 ).

THURSDAY -- 7:30 a.m.: The Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions

club will meet at Mimi’s to hear from new member Ray Ott. Noon: The

Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Holiday Inn, the Newport

Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club, the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Riverboat

Restaurant for a business meeting and the Newport Irvine Rotary Club will

meet at the Irvine Marriott for Student of the Year Awards (o7

http//:www.nirotary.orgf7 ).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published every Saturday in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by Fax to (949) 660-8667,

e-mail to o7 jdeboom@aol.comf7 or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol, Suite

201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.