Fun for kids here helps orphans there

Lolita Harper

Spring has sprung and rides at the Newport Coast Spring Fling flung

children left and right Saturday to raise money for orphans in

Mexico.

Newport Coast Cares hosted its first “Spring Fling” fund-raiser, a

carnival in the parking lot of the area shopping center, to benefit

the Corazon de Vida Foundation, an organization that raises money for

orphaned children in Baja California, Mexico.

Shrieks of laughter could be heard from the swing ride, as the

children circling high above waved their dangling feet. Brave “future

officers” roamed the space, with sticker badges from the Newport

Beach Police Department. Children bounced off of each other in the

sumo wrestling ring.

And hundreds of children in Baja will be fed because of the

festivities.

“We have over 300 people, and it’s not even 1 p.m.,” said Jim

McAleer, executive director of Corazon de Vida. “This is fabulous,

considering the weather.”

Gloomy gray skies did not dampen the spirits of the Newport Coast

residents visiting the various booths. The carnival offered tons of

fun with Laser Tag, a large inflatable slide, rock climbing, pony

rides, a petting zoo, sumo wrestling, food, drinks, a police display

and more. Children hurried excitedly from station to station.

“There is just so much love and good energy here,” Newport Coast

Cares co-founder Laura Giffin said.

The rides and games weren’t just for the youngsters. Adults had

their share of revelry at the carnival.

David Janes stood in the middle of the event posing proudly in a

red Speedo. Well, the Speedo was part of the sumo wrestler suit he

was wearing, which inflated so its wearer could bounce around an

opponent.

It was for a good cause, and his big smile indicated his

amusement.

Newport Coast Cares co-founder BergitteTehranchi got in on the

dress-up action, as she paraded around the carnival in a flowing

skirt, peasant top and floral crown, as the May Fairy.

“I am blowing all the gray clouds away,” she said.

All around were large posters of the children from the orphanages

in Baja Mexico. Their smiling faces and dancing brown eyes

illustrated the mission of the carnival.

“We keep their images up to remind them that this is really about

helping other kids,” Giffin said.

McAleer said the Newport Coast Cares group is one of the best to

work with -- and he works with organizations all over Southern

California. The generosity of the Newport Coast residents is

unmatched, from ticket sales to sponsorships.

Nearly every retailer in the Newport Coast shopping center donated

generously to the cause, he said. About 75 volunteers also pitched in

man hours to put the event together.

“They make my job so easy,” McAleer said.

In the fall, the Newport Coast Cares group helped raise more than

$25,000 for Corazon de Vida Foundation with its Halloween festival.

This year, the Spring Fling was added to their arsenal to fight

hunger at the orphanages in Baja. The tradition of giving back is

something they plan to continue, Giffin said.

“The people in this community are just great,” Giffin said. “Their

energy and spirit is just awesome. It is amazing what you can do when

you get people together. You can move mountains.”