The crowd -- B.W. Cook

Costa Mesa cancer survivors Diana Islas, 26, and Moreen Miller, 37,

were among 30 local residents who starred in St. Joseph Hospital’s fifth

annual Circles of Life fashion show at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine.

The Costa Mesa women brought tears and cheers from the more than 700

people who attended last week’s benefit for the hospital. Islas has

survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Miller is being treated for breast

cancer.

“My dad always told me that I was going to make it because I was just

so strong,” Islas told the crowd.

The models, who ranged in age from 18 to 80, each shared their stories

of survivorship while showing off the clothing lines of such designers as

Cache, August Max, Jessica McClintock and many others.

The event, chaired by Kathleen Thode-Farris, drew family members,

friends, donors and the physicians and medical staffs who had helped save

the lives of many of the models.

“The spirit and the courage displayed by these cancer survivors surely

played a role in their ability to overcome their afflictions,”

Thode-Farris said. “We all left this event with a deeper appreciation for

life.”

* * *

The UC Irvine Alumni Assn. has honored 18 distinguished members of the

community, including UCI faculty members, alumni, students and community

leaders, who have made significant contributions to UCI and the community

at large.

The 31st annual Lauds and Laurels Awards ceremony was held last week

at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

The evening’s highest honor was given to Glenn Schaeffer, president

and chief financial officer of Mandalay Resort Group and Circus Circus

Enterprises in Las Vegas, who received the Extraordinarious Award.

Also honored was local humanitarian and patron of the arts Joyce

Tucker, who attended the ceremony with her husband, Tom.

The Tuckers joined a distinguished roster of fellow Orange County

residents devoted to UCI. Proceeds from the evening will be used by the

UCI Alumni Assn. to help fund nine merit-based scholarships for worthy

undergraduate students.

Organizers hope the event’s financial success will enable adding a

10th merit-based scholarship to the list.

The event was chaired by Michelle Tsui Woods, whose committee included

Mark Alpert, Jennifer Beattie, Michael Bergler, Steven Capps, Ann Holland

DiPlacito, Lara Farhadi and Beverly Sandeen.

Karen Lawrence, dean of UCI’s School of Humanities, joined Chancellor

Ralph Cicerone in saluting the accomplishments of the honored crowd.

Susan Bryant, dean of UCI’s School of Biological Sciences, was mistress

of ceremonies.

* * *

A number of Newport-Mesa residents traveled to Beverly Hills to break

bread with the stars in support of ChildHelp USA.

The 37th annual ChildHelp USA Humanitarian Awards luncheon was held

recently at Merv Griffin’s Beverly Hills Hotel.

Griffin, creator of the wildly popular game shows “Wheel of Fortune’

and “Jeopardy,” was one of the honored guests.

Award-winning actress Kathleen Turner and Costa Mesa-based author Mark

Victor Hansen (“Chicken Soup for the Soul”) and his wife, Patty, were

praised for their ongoing efforts to help severely abused and neglected

children.

Mary Hart, longtime co-host of television’s “Entertainment Tonight,”

was mistress of ceremonies.

The highlight of the event was the news that Griffin recently donated

his more than $10-million ranch near Phoenix to ChildHelp USA.

The property will become a residential treatment facility for 80 to

100 children ranging in age from 3 to 12 when it is ready to function as

a ChildHelp home.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.