A big breakfast at the senior center

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The coffee was hot, the food was delicious, and although

the Costa Mesa Senior Center breakfast Thursday had a casual atmosphere,

the price tag was high: $22,000.

During the course of one meal, the senior center took large strides

toward its $100,000 fund-raising goal for the year and increased its

four-month total to more than $68,000, said Aviva Goelman, the center’s

director.

Goelman thanked the breakfast audience for its generosity. Among those

enjoying the early morning meal were Mayor Linda Dixon, Councilwoman

Libby Cowan, Councilman Chris Steel and honoree Sandra

Segerstrom-Daniels.

“Every little thing helps because it gives us one more program,”

Goelman said.

The director then called up a handful of senior center members to

accept the large donation: $10,000 from the Segerstrom family, $5,000

from American Automobile Assn., $5,000 from a private member and $1,100

from Angel’s Auto Spa. Smaller donations also helped move the center

toward its goal.

Segerstrom-Daniels has lived in Costa Mesa for 20 years and said she

was proud to support the senior center. Her witty humor and lighthearted

attitude brought smiles to the seniors who held the oversized check she

presented.

“You’re going to have to find a very big bank,” she teased.

On a serious note, Segerstrom-Daniels expressed her affinity for the

city and the center, and said she hopes to retire here herself someday.

Goelman said fund-raising efforts have struggled since Sept. 11 and

the general downturn of the economy last year. Times have been lean for

everybody, but the breakfast turnout gave her hope for the future.

“We will make our goal of $100,000 this year,” Goelman said.

Dixon, a senior center board member, reminded the audience of the

importance of supporting the city’s senior citizens.

“When my children were in school, I focused my attention on the school

board,” Dixon said. “But now that they are older, it’s time to give back

to the seniors.”