A very literate gathering in Newport

Local Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae in Orange County held an

impressive dinner at the Hyatt Newporter to benefit Literacy

Volunteers of America. The women organized their event around the

theme of “Keys to Literacy.”

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, the Daily Pilot and Newport

Beach advocates Jan Rockefeller and Fay and Joe Bosler, the evening

for literacy brought out some of the best and brightest in the

community for a very special evening. Chaired by Costa Mesa’s Sue

Graham and Katrin Bandhauer of Orange, the literacy evening was

supported by a dedicated crew that included Mary Sola of Costa Mesa

and Diane Mosley of Newport Beach.

Local patrons of the evening included Elizabeth and John Stahr,

Elizabeth Strahan, Alta Larrison, Amy Langdale, Sigrid Hecht, Mary

and John Corrough, and Nancy and Robert Sattler.

More than 200 guests attended the benefit, which opened with a

letter from First Lady Laura Bush on the importance of literacy.

Featured authors attending the evening to discuss their work included

David Rosenfelt, Meryl Sawyer, Jonathan Fraser Light and Kelly Lange.

Tom Johnson, publisher of the Daily Pilot, served as master of

ceremonies for the evening. The $75 per person ticket raised funds to

support Literacy Volunteer Programs throughout Orange County.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY

It was a marvelous week for The Christmas Company at the Orange

County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. The Junior League of Orange County

presents the annual shopping extravaganza as its major fund-raiser,

supporting a variety of programs in the community focusing on the

prevention of child abuse and adolescent pregnancy.

The four-day gala event opened last Saturday evening with a

black-tie cocktail and dinner reception introducing the community to

a host of wonderful vendors and artisans.

Nearly 1,000 guests arrived at the fairgrounds Saturday night to

support the work of Christmas Company chairwoman Heather Hupp Klein

and her committee of exuberant volunteers. The show continued through

Wednesday featuring some of the finest shopping around with more than

80 venders coming in from communities all over the nation.

The 2002 Christmas Company underwriters included Abbey Rents,

Culinary Adventures Catering, Strouds, Gallo Wine and Pavilions. The

festivities included the much-enjoyed American Girls Fashion Show,

“The Preferred Shopping Breakfast” sponsored by Tiffany & Co., and a

wonderful luncheon featuring guest speaker Leslie Hindman, the

antique authority from Home and Garden Television.

Raising more than $4 million since its inception in 1976, The

Christmas Company has become one of the leading holiday charity

events on the Orange Coast.

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