OK, now I know everything about Costa Mesa, maybe

It is the best kept secret in Costa Mesa.

I have covered this town now for almost two years. I can tell you

everything you need to know (and a lot of things you don’t) about

zoning, redevelopment, the City Council, Planning Commission, Bark

Park -- you name it, I know it.

I live in Costa Mesa. My mom lives in Costa Mesa. My cousin lives

in Costa Mesa. My aunt, uncle and their three kids live in Costa

Mesa. My best friend lives in Costa Mesa. Are you catching my drift

here?

Yet with all my ties to this lovely coastal city (by-the-sea), I

never heard of the Costa Mesa Community Foundation. Turns out this

city has a foundation dedicated to raising private funds for perks

the city cannot afford. Go figure.

I know I am not alone. I was one of maybe seven guests of the

Costa Mesa Community Foundation dinner event Thursday, who was not a

member, a politician or an employee of the city. But man do these

folks know how to throw a party.

They hosted it at the Neighborhood Community Center and there was

more food than you could imagine -- even if they would have had a

good turn out there would have been grub left over. The fact that

there were only a few of us, made it even better. Yum.

I think I was on my way to breaking some kind of sushi-eating

record when foundation member Cindy Brenneman said something that

reminded me of my diet. (Which officially started Friday, I then

decided.)

Good thing I slowed down, because Brenneman and her foundation

cohorts called over the hungry men from Station 3, which upped the

male to female ratio to about 6 to 1. As if men in uniform weren’t

enough of a perk, the firefighters began offering pictures with the

strapping group.

Trust me, there was no need for the camera woman to say, “smile,”

because happy grins were etched on every female face that stood in

the middle of the handsome crew. (Yes, Karen, yes, Cindy, I know I

was one if them.)

Seems this group of energetic residents has been around since

1998, and since then have been able to raise more than $100,000. At

their dinner event Thursday night, many members urged me to spread

the word.

“Nobody knows about us, we need to raise awareness,” former mayor

and foundation member Mary Hornbuckle kept telling me.

“You need to make sure you tell people that they are more than

welcome to come to any of our meetings,” Foundation Chairman Eric

Cernich said.

“And make sure you tell people 100% of their donation goes

straight to Costa Mesa needs, not administrative costs,” Hornbuckle

added.

“If people want to give to the police or fire, make sure you tell

them it is better to do it through foundation, so they can be sure it

gets to the source,” said Ed Fawcett, the president and CEO of the

Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Interesting how the concept of promoting the foundation suddenly

became my responsibility. I had never heard of it before Thursday.

Funny, I never remember receiving a press release about the

foundation, its meetings or goals. In fact, the invitation to this

dinner came from Asst. City Manager Anne Shultz, who I talk to all

the time, but who has never mentioned the Costa Mesa Community

Foundation.

There is a good reason for that, the members explained.

Because the money raised by the foundation goes directly to its

specified cause, or into a larger pool to be awarded by the

foundation members through competitive grants, there is not much left

over for marketing.

So that’s why they invited me to this shindig. Oh yeah, and the

firefighters were there for a good reason also. They were there to

share the city’s equivalent of a trophy wife: Mesa Truck 85. Heard of

it? It’s that flashy and beautiful, cherry red rescue vehicle that is

flaunted at nearly every city function. Yeah, that one.

Well, the foundation helped raise money for the high-tech mapping

device on the new truck. They also forked over some cash to buy the

fire fighters voice amplifiers to wear in their helmets so they can

hear each other more clearly.

They have many more goals for the community including using a

$10,000 donation from Henry’s Market for the new Ketchum-Libolt Park

and working with city and soccer officials for some more lighted

fields.

So, there you have it. Now you now about it and its up to you to

spread the word from here on out.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

and covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275

or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.