A night of Olympic proportions

B.W. COOK

It wasn’t just another charity event. “Olympians on Parade,” a

special evening that welcomed 500 distinguished local citizens, paid

tribute to U.S. Olympic athletes, with the overall purpose to shine

the spotlight on Special Olympic athletes from Orange County.

Founded in 1968 in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver,

“Special Olympics has now become the largest amateur sports

organization in the world with over 160 countries providing athletic

training and competition to over one million children and adults with

mental retardation,” Jan Lanstrom of Newport Beach said. “Special

Olympics Orange County serves over 1,350 children and adults and

presently offers opportunities for training and competition in 19 of

the 22 sports offered in Southern California Special Olympics.”

It turned out to be a night all about sports, with the added

dimension of personal passion to help those with special challenges.

Activist Betty Belden Palmer chaired the fundraising evening at Joe’s

Garage and Automotive Museum in Tustin, welcoming the Newport-Mesa

crowd. Belden Palmer was joined by co-chair Peggy Goldwater Clay of

Newport Beach and a committee of hard-working citizens including Don

and Dorothy Kennedy, Harry Adler, Barbara Campbell Ramsey, Joann

Waldron, Rick Guerrero, Timothy Redmond and Richard Hardy to create

an evening that raised more than $150,000 to benefit Special Olympics

Orange County.

The casual evening at the Garage welcomed a host of much-admired

national heroes. Tim Shaw, 1976 gold medalist in aquatics; Brian

Goodell, a double gold medalist in the 1976 games in aquatics; Bob

Seagren, a 1968 gold medalist in pole vaulting; Misty May, a 2002

Olympian on the American volleyball team; and Connie Young, a 1968

bronze medalist in cycling, were among the distinguished guests of

honor. Also supporting the evening were Olympic heroes Rafer Johnson,

Pat McCormick and Paul Gonzales.

Belden Palmer and Goldwater Clay garnered substantial support from

VIP citizens and local businesses. Newport’s Zee Allred and Marion

Knott were among the major underwriters of the evening. Wally and

Mary Frome, the Madole family and sports legend turned real estate

mogul Vince Ferragamo also lended significant financial support to

the Special Olympics.

The $125-per-person evening was catered by Soiree and served

family style. Dinner was served at each table with hearty servings of

meatloaf, mashed potatoes, five-cheese macaroni, green-bean

casserole, and much more presented as the ultimate comfort feast on

the charity dinner circuit. TV newsman Ed Arnold handled emcee and

auction duties as guests table-hopped and shared sporting memories.

The highlight of the evening presentations were contributions by

Special Olympic athletes Jay White and Tom Peale. Both men inspired

the crowd with their accomplishments.

Others supporting Special Olympics and the work of Belden Palmer

were Gloria Osbrink, Jim and Beverly Gardner, Bruce and Elizabeth

Hallett, Patrice Poidmore, Michael and Ashley Coelho, Patrick and

Andrea Ganahl, Joe MacPherson, and Mike and Liz Keller. Also in the

crowd were John and Susie Hurlbut, Mike and Charlene Immell, Jill and

Mark Bolton, Jennifer Gray, Patrick and Karen Hennessey, Carolyn

Nelson and Bruce and Cheryl Lazenby.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.