Clinic gets funding boost

BARBARA DIAMOND

The Community Clinic has been sort of a stepchild among nonprofit

organizations in town, but a Cinderella emerged Sunday night at the

Legends and Icons fund-raiser at the Montage.

“This event has kicked the clinic up a notch,” said Planning

Commissioner Anne Johnson. “I believe the clinic is absolutely vital

to Laguna Beach and I feel guilty that I haven’t done more to support

it, but I am turning over a new leaf. “

The clinic has struggled over the years to attract the city’s

rainmakers enjoyed by the more glamorous causes such as the Laguna

Art Museum and SchoolPower. Sunday’s event may have turned the trick.

“I am guessing we raised close to $190,000, compared to $84,000

last year,” said Bryan Noble, co-chair, with Debbie Mulligan, of the

event. “We went out on a limb to do it, but everyone said they would

come back next year.”

The clinic provides medical and dental services to anyone in need,

regardless of their ability to pay. More than 16,000 visits are made

each year to the clinic. Ninety-four percent of the clients are below

the federal poverty level and 98 percent are working, clinic

officials said. .

“We are here to celebrate the clinic’s good work and your

support,” clinic board President Vera Martinez told the guests at the

fund-raiser.

Mayor Toni Iseman was a newcomer to town in 1967 when she attended

an informal gathering of local activists who were concerned about the

lack of health and counseling services for low-income residents in

town. That meeting led to the formation of the Laguna Beach Free

Clinic, which morphed into the Community Clinic when economics forced

the staff to start charging fees, based on ability to pay.

Iseman, a former volunteer at the clinic and a founder of the

Friends of the Clinic support group, was among the local icons

honored at the fund-raiser.

Looking at the standing ovation she received, Iseman joked, “I

brought a lot of friends tonight.”

.

Iseman said the clinic represents the humanity of Laguna Beach,

which nurtures to soul of every resident.

“Without humanity, a town would not be worth living in,” Iseman

said.

Clinic financial officer Glenn A. Howard was honored at the

fund-raiser for fund-raising.

“As financial officer, I am so happy to see all of you here,”

Howard said.

The event was sold out, 36 tables of 10 each at $185 a plate. That

included wine and dessert of chocolate caramel mousse with bitter

orange chutney.

Clinic volunteer Vibiana Pomo was presented with the Exemplary

Community Support Award.

“The clinic has done more for me than I have done for the clinic,”

Pomo said.

Caterer Mark De Palma was named the outstanding volunteer.

“I am not prepared,” De Palma said. “I didn’t expect this many

people here tonight, but I am very honored.”

Foundation founders Al Roberts and Ken Jillson attended the

fund-raiser. They are up to their ears in rehearsals for the World’s

Fair New York, successor to Splash, to be held Saturday at the Irvine

Bowl Park. For ticket information, visit https://www.ocasf.org or call

(949) 809-8768.

Event co-chair Noble came up with the theme of “Legends and Icons”

for the fund-raiser. Entertainment celebrities donated autographed

photographs and other items for the auction.

“Bryan spent a year, writing to all the celebrities,” said Carolyn

Bent, president of the Friends of the Clinic. “They were all so

supportive.”

Bent, wife of Dr. Thomas C. Bent, clinic medical director, was in

charge of the noncelebrity donations, which included a one-night stay

at the Montage and a lung-and-heart CT scan at South Coast Medical

Center.

The medical center also helped underwrite the fund-raiser.

“If the hospital does leave town [as has been discussed], it will

increase the need for the clinic substantially,” said Fred Droz,

chair of the Vision Laguna Beach Steering Committee, which never

envisioned the hospital moving away.

More than 105 donors contributed to the auction, not including the

88 celebrities, including Ben Affleck and Joanne Woodard.

Many of the local donors also attend the fund-raiser, including

Police Chief James Spreine, with Orange County Sheriff’s Department

Lt. Linda Spreine, his wife.

“I am so tickled,” clinic Executive Director Ericka Waidley said.

For more information on how to volunteer time or to make

donations, call Waidley at (949) 494-0761, ext. 126.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite

22; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.