In the name of outstanding women

Marsha Johnson Evans, the new president of the American National

Red Cross, honored the Orange County Red Cross Chapter as guest

speaker at the Clara Barton Spectrum Awards for Outstanding Women in

Orange County.

The luncheon event at the Hyatt Regency Irvine attracted a full

house to applaud local leaders and to welcome Evans to Southern

California.

As a retired Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy, Evans spent 29 years

in the service before pursuing a business career that has included

the leadership of the National Girl Scouts and now the American Red

Cross.

The event in Orange County marked the 10th annual gathering in the

name of Clara Barton, the founder of The American Red Cross, “to

recognize women who have demonstrated a dedication to social justice

and humanitarianism,” offered Rebecca Long of the Orange County

Chapter of The American Red Cross.

The City of Hope named Joseph D. Davis, president of Irvine

Community Development Co., the 2002 recipient of the Spirit of Life

Award. The honor was bestowed upon Davis at the recent Construction

Industries Alliance gala dinner.

A dedicated supporter of City of Hope, Davis has had an active

career in local real estate for nearly three decades. Since joining

the Irvine Co. in 1993, he has risen to the position of president of

community development.

“In honoring Joe Davis, we honor the best in community and

philanthropic leadership,” said Robyn Moore, development director of

the Orange County office of The City of Hope.

In its 28-year history, the alliance, originally founded by

Newport developer John Lusk, has raised $9 million to benefit City of

Hope research and treatment programs.

Newport’s dedicated social activist Harriet Selna reports that The

Adoption Guild of Southern Orange County, a support group of Holy

Family Services Adoption and Foster Care, is teaming up with Puzzle

Zoo, a toy store at South Coast Plaza, for a little holiday

entertainment and family fun.

From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Puzzle Zoo will join forces with the

Rain Forest Cafe to present a late afternoon of wine and hors

d’oeuvres for the adults and snacks for the children to introduce the

new store and to raise funds for the Adoption Guild.

The main fund-raiser will be a raffle for the new Sony AIBO Robot

Dog, valued at $1,500. Raffle tickets are $5 each or three for $10

and can be purchased at the event.

Close to 1,000 guests from all over Orange County joined together

for the 17th annual Spirit of Philanthropy Awards luncheon at the

Hyatt Regency, Garden Grove, in celebration of National Philanthropy

Day. A large contingent of Newport-Mesa volunteers and donors were

included in the honors.

Among the distinguished in the crowd were Corona del Mar’s Susan

and Henry Samueli, who were named Outstanding Philanthropists of the

Year. Henry Samueli accepted the award.

“Susan and I have been very blessed,” he said. “We felt it was our

duty to give back and we will continue to do so in the future.”

The event was marked by an emotional keynote address by Newport’s

Linda Biehl. The tragic death of Biehl’s daughter Amy in South Africa

touched hearts worldwide nearly a decade ago and continues to inspire

those working for peace and equality all over the globe.

Julie Hill served as master of ceremonies for the prestigious

event, with support from Linda Parton and event chairs Janet DeWolfe

and Shelly Hoss of the Orange County Community Foundation. Others

supporters were Catherine Michaels, Lane Macy, Amy Cosper, Viki Barie

and Carla Rivas.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.