Harvesting money for food bank ‘Under the Asian Moon’

“For 180,000 kids in Orange County, hunger is growing faster than

they are,” says the 2001 Annual Report from the Second Harvest Food

Bank of Orange County. “Children account for 42% of Orange County

residents at risk for hunger. Seventy percent of poor families with

children include at least one employed adult.”

In this affluent community there are those who understand the

plight of those in need. A small, dedicated and pro-active group of

Newport-Mesa women called The Harvesters held their 10th anniversary celebration supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

Chaired by The Harvesters co-founders Jill Johnson-Tucker and

Jennifer Van Bergh, along with Jeri McKenna and Teddie Ray, nearly

500 guests converged upon the Newport Dunes for a magnificent

Saturday evening billed as “Under an Asian Moon.”

The Harvesters consist of 50 women who together have raised more

than $1.4 million for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Their evening

“Under an Asian Moon” should add an estimated $400,000 more to the

impressive total.

When it comes to feeding the hungry, it’s not the dollars that

matter. Instead, it’s the food those dollars purchase that sustains

life for an astounding 200,000 people each and every month.

The goal of The Harvesters is to raise the money to enable the

Second Harvest Food Bank, which is Orange County’s only private

nonprofit food bank, to canvas the region and collect the food that

might otherwise be discarded from grocery stores, hotels and

restaurants, manufacturers and other sources.

Second Harvest distributes what it has collected to some 380

organizations throughout the county. Food bank officials are proud of

their results, stating, “94.7 cents of every dollar raised is passed

on through services and products to people in need.” More

importantly, “For every dollar donated, 30 people can be fed a meal.”

This year, organizers partnered with corporate sponsors including

South Coast Plaza, Cartier and KTLA Charities, a fund of the

McCormick Tribune Foundation. It is the sixth year that The

Harvesters have joined forces with the KTLA Charities.

The generous underwriting of the event has enabled the group to

raise and donate significant proceeds to Second Harvest. In addition

to the corporate support, local women deserving mention for their

personal contribution to the success of The Harvesters include

underwriting co-chairs Ann Moorehead, Sherry Abbott and Michelle

O’Leary-Koll; party coordinators Katherine Sanderson and Allison

Olmstead; and silent auction organizers Carmela Phillips and Cherie

Skellern.

The “Asian Moon” theme of the party was naturally extended to the

marvelous banquet, which followed a champagne reception hosted by

Cartier. Yujean and Yvonne Kang, owners of The Asian Bistro at South

Coast Plaza, impressed the guests with dinner in a romantic setting

lovingly created by The Harvester women. In the crowd were Christine

and Lance Anderson, Paige and Jay Kunkle, Cary and Murray Lobel,

Stephanie Rados, and Diane and Charlie Cotton.

As guests table-hopped, admiring the exquisite favors provided by

Cartier and Dunhill -- Cartier gave Chinese dragon signature

stationary, while Dunhill provided elegant classic silk gentlemen’s

bowties -- a silent auction was attracting bidders for a spectacular

spread of items with a retail value of more than $150,000.

Gucci, Tod’s, Fendi, La Perla, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Yves Saint

Laurent, Neiman Marcus, A’Marees were among the retailers generously

donating to the auction. Bidding was fast and furious for a stay at

the fabulous Orchid Hotel at Mauna Lani, as well as an ocean view

suite provided by the chic “W” Hotel in Honolulu.

Then, as is the tradition at The Harvester’s events, sponsored in

great part by South Coast Plaza, a fashion presentation produced by

Billur Wallerich wowed the crowd. Fall and winter creations from St.

John Boutique, Dona Karan New York, Celine, Traffic, MaxMara, La

Perla, Gucci, Fendi, Dunhill, Saint Laurent were all featured

prominently.

It was quite simply another enormous success for a group of young

women who combine their business career and their personal lives to

create a community network that makes a difference. In the end, it is

the food that matters, to feed both the children and the adults who

may never have the opportunity to attend a charity ball, who may not

know or care about the Gucci shoes or the Fendi bag that helped to

provide hundreds of meals, when there might have been none.

Also deserving mention for their support are volunteers Wendy

Enkema, Barbie Knapp, Sabine Whorle, Rhonda Priestly and Carie Ross.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.