Finding the heart to fight

B.W. COOK

The 17th annual Circle 1000 Founders Brunch welcomed former White

House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan. The Four Seasons Hotel in

Newport Beach was the setting for Jordan’s morning address to a

sold-out crowd of community members dedicated to fighting cancer.

Chaired by Vicki Booth with support from founding chair Sandy

Sewell and underwriting chair Sheryl Anderson, Jordan shared his

successful battle overcoming three different cancers prior to the age

of 50. It was a story of personal courage as Jordan discussed his

confrontation with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer and

melanoma. His message was one of patient empowerment -- taking charge

of one’s own destiny in a complex and sometimes conflicting

environment of medical information.

Prominent community activists Sewell, Louise Ewing, Ginny

Ueberroth, Arden Flamson, Judy Steele, and Hyla Bertea, all past

Circle 1000 chairs, joined Founders committee members and major

underwriters to bring in significant figures in support of the Hoag

Cancer Center through the Circle 1000 banner. Some of the generous

among the crowd included Susan Bartlett and Edouard de Limburg, Jean

and Wesley Bellwood, The Carl E. Wynn Foundation, Mary and Dick

Allen, Sue and Greg Brakovich, Jo Ann Hertel-Koontz, and Melinda and

Tony Moiso.

Founders committee members working to make a difference included

Mary Buckingham, Jacquelyn Dillman, Nora Jorgensen Johnson, Lin Auer,

and Jan Turner Hering to name only a few. The Circle 1000 brunch

stands as one of the most inspirational events in Orange County, as

it is often attended by several cancer survivors who join with the

speaker of record to send a very strong message that cancer is not

necessarily a death sentence. Funds raised support both research and

patient services at the Hoag Cancer Center, which has become a vital

lifeline for countless thousands of local citizens.

The Decorative Arts Society will share breakfast at Tiffany’s May

17 at South Coast Plaza in celebration of an elegant exhibit of Elsa

Peretti designs which have been flown in from New York. Jeff Bennett,

Tiffany’s vice president at South Coast Plaza reports that the

Peretti collection opened May 1 for public viewing. The special event

for the Decorative Arts Society will welcome Frank Arcaro, vice

president of the Elsa Peretti Collection who will greet the crowd at

the Costa Mesa store.

It’s almost time for the 26th annual Gentleman’s Haberdashery

Fashion Show benefiting the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa

Ana. The Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart will once

again produce Orange County’s very popular men’s fashion show

featuring business and community leaders showing off the very latest

men’s wear provided by Fashion Island retailers. This year’s event is

being billed as “Celebrating Our Heroes.” Sister Paula reports that

the event will pay tribute “to everyday heroes in our midst” as well

as feature some local stars including sports celebrity Matt Willig

and members of the late John Wayne’s family. Tony and Melinda Moiso

will once again chair, joining Melanie Salata Fitch and comic Steve

Ireland to put on a fashion show at the Irvine Marriott Hotel on May

18. Tickets are priced at $125 per person and may be reserved by

calling (714) 557-4538.

AIDS Services Foundation Orange County sponsored a community

update on the status of HIV/AIDS last week in Costa Mesa. “AIDS

Families and Hope” was presented at a dinner gathering held at Plum’s

Cafe on Costa Mesa’s 17th Street. The gathering was hosted by Frank

Bianchini, Pearl Jemison-Smith and Kim Jorgenson. Guest speakers at

the evening dinner symposium included Costa Mesa City Councilwoman

Libby Cowan, former mayor of Newport Beach Evelyn Hart and AIDS

Services Foundation activists Judy Fluor Runels and Pearl

Jemison-Smith. Also lending their support were Mayor of Newport Beach

Tod Ridgeway, Mayor of Costa Mesa Gary Monahan, David Kiff, assistant

city manager of Newport Beach, and Marilyn Brewer, former member of

the California Assembly. AIDS Services Foundation provides assistance

to more than 1,500 local men, women and children fighting HIV and

AIDS. For more information, call (949) 809-5700.

Finally, the Villeroy and Boch Boutique at South Coast Plaza will

donate 10% of all purchases made all day Friday to the Make-A-Wish

Foundation. On hand for the event will be Mark Pilon, Make-A-Wish

chief executive, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Isabelle von Boch will be in

the store sharing tips with customers and Make-A-Wish supporters on

how to accessorize the perfect dinner table.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.