The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

The Orange County chapter of Childhelp USA welcomed 500 patrons to its

18th annual luncheon and fashion show, “For The Love Of A Child.” In the

program and tribute book, donors expressed their personal thoughts

concerning the importance of raising healthy children.

“Life is a flame that is always burning itself out. But it catches

fire again every time a child is born,” were the words of George Bernard

Shaw accompanying a photograph of toddler Dexter Case Brown, the grandson

of patrons Mary Allyn and Earl Dexter.

On another page, the Butler family published a photo of their two

young children with another significant quote -- “As water to a tree, is

love to a child.” The Ganahl family used the words of Walter Elias Disney

to sum up their feelings. “Our greatest natural resource is in the minds

of our children.”

Cerise and Larry Feeley borrowed the words of author Elizabeth Stone

to be placed along side a photograph of their teenage daughter Tara

Claire. “Making the decision to have a child -- it’s momentous. It is to

decide forever to have your heart walking around outside your body.”

The sentiments expressed in the Childhelp USA tribute book are only a

hint at the passion and the purpose of the ladies and gentlemen dedicated

to the Childhelp USA cause.

The 18th annual event was chaired with spirit and elan by the dynamic

duo Cleo Bluth and Gisela Doniguian. The two ladies were surrounded by

loved ones and friends as a spectacular luncheon fashion show unfolded

for the community, helping to raise a substantial six-figure sum for

Childhelp USA.

An elegant introduction by Nancy Whitlock, president of the Orange

County chapter, set the tone followed by a spiritual invocation from Tim

Drom, chaplain at The Village of Childhelp West, located in Beaumont.

Doniguian confided, “I saw a Childhelp video quite a few years ago on

child abuse and I was so moved that I immediately joined the

organization.”

The pretty blond Emerald Bay resident added, “It is so sad. So many

children are unprotected from many forms of abuse. Childhelp USA works

miracles every day in so many young lives.”

Doniguian reached across the table to take the hand of her fellow

chair Cleo Bluth. “The experience of making this event a reality has made

us better friends day by day as we have worked so hard with so many

people for such a great cause,” said Bluth, attending the luncheon

fashion show with her daughter Carrie Bluth, in town from Santa Barbara

where she works for the State of California Coastal Conservancy.

The young lady, excited to be in a time of transition in life, is

deciding on which law school to attend in the fall. Her proud mother

shared the fact that Carrie had been accepted at a number of prestigious

institutions.

At the next table, a steady stream of the curious huddled around some

high profile guests attending the Childhelp event. Susan Samueli, wife

of Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli, was seated with Elizabeth

Segerstrom, wife of Henry Segerstrom, South Coast Plaza managing partner

and premier supporter of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The recent buzz over the resignation of Henry Samueli and his partner

from the board of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, due to a

business dispute with board chairman Tom Tierney and other members, has

created an undercurrent of gossip and speculation in social and business

circles. Clearly, many in attendance went hovering in order to get some

inside dirt.

Both Samueli and Segerstrom, gracious and circumspect, revealed

nothing but positive community wishes. The seating of the two women

together was a subtle yet purposeful message to the community that the

Orange County Performing Arts Center is beyond reproach.

Organizations such as Childhelp USA are important to the community for

the same reason. These charities elevate us to levels of concern over

much more important needs in life. Certainly, there are critics who

charge that society can become overly focused on the fabric and the food

of any given event.

When the caviar clears and the last sequined dress has left the

parking lot, what remains are funds donated that, for the most part, find

their way into the hands of those that need help most.

Now it did help that a segment of the show featured models wearing

LaPerla lingerie, and the conservative Childhelp ladies let out a hoot

and a holler for the young and handsome male models wearing Boss Hugo

Boss. The clothes of Donna Karen were exceptionally original and

sensuous. The major style winner was Escada, displaying a remarkable line

from casual to couture.

The show ended with an Escada model parading the runway in a drop-dead

red, white and blue, American flag-inspired patriotic evening gown that

was an absolute killer. The crowd went crazy.

The event was underwritten by the mega-generous Donna and John Crean.

Donna was honored as the 2002 Children’s Friend Of The Year. She cried as

she accepted the award, and told the audience that it really belonged to

her husband John who gave her the freedom to “give their money away.”

John Crean was in the audience recovering from the LaPerla models as

Donna summoned him to the podium. It was a touching moment as he kissed

his bride of more than 50 years and told the crowd, “She really is

something, isn’t she?”

The Crean’s joined other significant Childhelp donors including Patti

and Jim Edwards, the Bluth family, the Samueli family, the Elliott

Fitzgerald family, Christopher M. Anthony, Dolores and Ernie Duncan, Dana

McNeil, Erna and Don Minkoff, Donald R. Knapp, Rich and Eileen Saul,

Kathy Slavik, Twyla Martin, Ruth Lewis, Bernice Edwards, Linda and Mike

Jacobs, and Christine and Cary Bren.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.