B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Friends of the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter raised an impressive

$41,000 for homeless families at their recent summer fund-raiser held at

the Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar. The theme was “Fantasy Island

Adventure,” and nearly 200 guests dressed in their best tropical attire

to set the mood.

The highlight of the evening was an announcement from board member

Linda Schulein sharing the news with the crowd concerning the acquisition

of a three-unit apartment building that will provide housing for families

graduating from the Interfaith Shelter’s transitional program.

“The instruction is designed to help families get back on their feet

and become self-sufficient,” says Schulein.

Funds raised at the tropical adventure will be earmarked for the down

payment on the new apartments. The economy has pushed up rental prices in

recent years, and consequently increased profits in real estate have

adversely affected those at the lower end of the socioeconomic chain.

Group member Judy Cooper said, “The number of homeless people has

increased in Orange County from 15,000 to 18,000, with over 6,000 of

these people being children.”

Every day, the interfaith shelter houses 50 to 60 adults and 40 to 50

children. Clearly, there is a much greater need for assistance.

* * *

The much loved Newport Beach couple John and Donna Crean were honored

last week at Zoofari 2001. Hailed as the “Top Bananas” for their gift of

$50,000 to be used for the children’s zoo at the Santa Ana Zoo, the

Creans were the centerpiece of the ninth annual dinner, dance and auction

produced under the summer stars on the zoo property.

Next to John and Donna, another local celebrity getting plenty of

attention was Bertha, a 9-foot boa constrictor who was having her picture

taken with the crowd.

Actress and animal activist Tippi Hedren was on hand for the party, as

she has been in years past. Hedren joined actor Michael Villani, who

served as master of ceremonies for the evening, along with sports anchor

Ed Arnold, who masterminded the auction, helping to raise much needed

funds for the zoo.

Tarzan was even there. Sasha Fedortchev, a former Russian gymnastic

champion, delighted the partygoers with his leopard-print loincloth and

his baritone jungle call, which was all part of turning the evening into

a “swinging good time.”

Paige Kunkel of Newport Beach chaired the party along with Donel

Wiles. Wayne Foster provided the tribal tunes. Turnip Rose served the

safari feast, complete with “jungle juice” that was enhanced by Baccardi.

The Wine Room hosted the bar for those too timid for the “jungle

juice.” Also involved with the success of Zoofari 2001 were Curtis

Farrell, Doug Raff, Chris Kiehler, Wendy Sabins and Debbie Newmeyer.

* * *

Hotelier Henry Schielein, president of The Balboa Bay Club and Resort,

hosted the seventh annual Gentleman’s Smoker and Lobster Clambake last

week. Two hundred gentlemen and a few very brave women converged on the

pristine white sand beach of the Balboa Bay Club for an evening that

began with a cigar seminar by Richard L. Di Meola.

A cocktail reception followed at sunset with a lobster feast.

Schielein invited the crowd to show up in blue blazers and white slacks,

with tie and shoes optional. The $250 per person entrance fee will

support the Balboa Bay Club Scholarship fund, which provides financial

assistance to deserving young men and women graduating from community

schools and heading off to universities around the country.

Schielein is a cigar celebrity inasmuch as he holds the official title

“Goodwill Ambassador of the Cigar.” In 1983, Schielein was working in

Boston running the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and he resurrected the Old World

custom of a gentlemen’s black-tie dinner.

The reborn tradition took off, and within a decade there were more

than 2,000 cigar evenings being held in hotels, restaurants, bars and

clubs all over the country.

In the crowd were guests Paul Baldwin, James Bond, Lynn Jackson, Gary

Gray, Joe Girard, Allan Effron, Dominick Addario, and artist Michael

Bryan, who donated his work to help raise additional funds during the

live auction.

Movie star Mamie Van Doren provided an ample share of excitement

dressed in revealing black leather with an enormous pink dahlia placed

strategically in her platinum blond, flowing hair.

Lido Isle’s John Wortmann commented, “The food was fabulous, the

selection of cigars was the best ever.”

Also in the crowd was super car salesman Kirk Dawson, who added, “It

was the first time we had the cigar dinner on the new lawn in front of

the new club. It was great to be a part of that.”

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of

Bay Windows Magazine, a publication of the Balboa Bay Club.