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.