The Crowd -- B.W. Cook
The 19th annual Spirit Run was a big success this past week. The
crowd turned out en mass to support local public elementary education.
Big money was raised buck by buck to help expand local programs not
covered by taxpayer dollars.
The title sponsors of the community run/walk were once again Lucy and
Leigh Steinberg of the Newport Coast. The power couple with the
deliberate low-profile underwrote the event to foster community
awareness, involvement and pride in local elementary education.
To kick-off the event, Lucy Steinberg, in conjunction with a host of
Newport city officials and concerned parents including fellow advocates
Robyn Moss and Rita Goldberg, hosted a pre-Spirit Run luncheon at Z-Tejas
Grill in South Coast Plaza.
Some 100 guests dined on Southwestern faire and joined forces for a
better community for all, young and old alike.
* * *
Helping children afflicted with diabetes is the goal of the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation. The local chapter of this international
calling hosted a recent black-tie benefit, attracting more than 500
Newport-Mesa guests for dinner at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel.
This second annual evening of passion and purpose was billed as an
evening “For Those We Love.” The honorary chairs were conductor Carl St.
Clair and his wife Susan.
The bravery and the commitment of the St. Clairs is a beacon of
community pride. Susan St. Clair, afflicted with diabetes, passed out
while sitting in the family spa several years ago and the couple’s infant
child drowned. They survived the tragedy with untold grace, and their
active participation in rallying local support for diabetic research
brought tears to the eyes of many attending the ball.
Event co-chairs Joann Leatherby, Olivia Johnson and Ronna Shipman
produced a first-class evening, created around a spring garden theme.
Fabulous auction items helped to raise the bar of financial success,
bringing the net tally to more than $400,000.
Local executive director of the foundation, Anne Grey, joined board
President Eric Seedman to applaud the crowd for its generous support.
Sponsors included Dick and Mary Allen, Mark and Barbara Johnson, Paul and
Daranne Foline, Damien and Yvonne Jordan, Phil and Charlene Bosl, and a
host of philanthropic corporate partners such as Northern Trust Bank,
Carlton, Di Sante and Freudenberger LLP, and WLA Arcon to name only a
few.
Also spotted in the crowd were Dr. and Mrs. Alan Marcus, Congressman
Christopher Cox, Richard and Verda Schroeder, Kent and Carol Wilken, Mary
Hamilton, Fred and Marcia Jager, Betty Mower, Joe MacPherson, and Bob and
Lisa Tarlton.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a nongovernmental agency,
earmarking 87% of funds raised to research. This year the international
body will fund $100 million in diabetes research with a goal of doubling
the figure by 2004.
For more information, call the Orange County chapter at (949)
553-0363.
* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.
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