Art of Giving gala nets large returns

BARBARA DIAMOND

The Boys and Girls Club of Laguna has “giving” down to a fine art.

More than $100,000 was netted at the club’s fourth annual Art of

Giving gala, held May 7 at the Ritz-Carlton. The proceeds will

benefit club operations and programs.

“This was our largest crowd ever,” said Kim Maxwell, club

executive director. “The theme was “Through the Years.”

Club alumni Jeff and Joe Jahraus, served as honorary chairs of the

event. Dain Blanton, Jay Andrus, Kasey and Keri Kern, David

Duttenhoffer, Laguna Coastline Pilot columnist James Pribram and

retired Laguna Beach Fire Captain Bing Boka also are alumni of the

club.

The original Boys Club of Laguna Beach was located on Main Beach.

The club officially changed its name to include Girls in 1988,

although girls were included in activities before that.

Maxwell was the first female executive director of the club,

appointed in 1995, succeeding Pat Barry, now employed by the city as

director of the city’s Community Services Department.

Glenn Engles was the first president of the Laguna club. Board

members Don Crevier, Mike Hefty, who chaired the gala and Bill Wood

all were members. Board members Keith Swayne, Southern California

Edison vice president of Human Resources Fred Grigsby Jr. and Joe

Ziomek were members of clubs in other cities.

Southwest Bank regional branch manager Anne Morris is the newest

member of the board.

“I am going to help in marketing and public relations,” said Annie

at the gala.

The club, which has served the community for more than 50 years,

is currently being renovated and expanded. The renovation is funded

by a capital campaign that exceeded $3 million.

More money was raised at the gala, which included a live and

silent auction and bidding on the opportunity prize of 2004 BMW X-3

or $25,000 in cash. The all-wheel-drive-sport-

activity-vehicle was donated by Crevier BMW, a gala sponsor, which

also donated a year’s lease of a BMW Z4 to the live auction.

Richard and Michelle Rosenblum won the opportunity prize and opted

to take the car. He is senior vice president of transportation and

distribution for Edison, which was a sponsor of the gala. The

Rosenblums were seated at board member Grigsby’s table.

“My tickets sales will skyrocket next year,” Grigsby said.

The live auction also included a hand-sculpted balsa wood

surfboard, donated by John Pribram and a board autographed by

two-time world champion surfer Andy Irons, donated by Billabong.

Ebell Club was among the sponsors.

“We donate quite a bit of money to the club,” said Carrie Joyce,

who sat with club President Cristina Calderone, past President

Mitchellene Channels, Shirley McCalla and Penny Stastny at the Ebell

table.

“Joe (Jahraus) and I graduated from Laguna Beach High School

together and his wife graduated with my younger sister,” Stastny

said. “Ours was the first class at El Morro Elementary School.”

Festival of Arts Board member John Campbell was on his own at the

gala. Wife Lu, is in Italy, immersed in an Italian language class.

“We like promoting kids,” Campbell said. “Being involved with

nonprofits gives back to the community.

“I insure at least 50 nonprofits and spend a lot of time educating

them about things like personal liability exposure -- four members of

the festival board are being sued right now -- preservation of assets

and employment practices.”

Also on the guest list: Morris Skenderian, a sponsor; Barbara

Painter and her daughter, Wendy Potter -- a fan of the club because

her daughter, Samantha Ferri, attends; Wayne Peterson and Terry

Smith; Stephen O’Hare, who worked with Peterson at Pacific Life, and

the guest of Milt Naylor, who bought a table; Community Clinic board

member Faye Kirk and Planning Commissioner Bob Chapman, of Prudential

of California Realtors, a major supporter of the club.

“We are close to reaching our pledge of $75,000,” Chapman said.

“The gym floor will have our logo on it.”

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson was pretty in purple. The silk

dress with a shoulder-tip quilted collar and cinched waist could have

been filched from the closet of actress Loretta Young -- for the

those folks remember the actress swishing through a door and twirling

to introduce her weekly television show.

The gala was pretty in pink -- with pink linen, centerpieces and

lighting. Pink feather boas were draped over the chair backs.

“I just wanted something fun,” said club executive Maxwell.

The gala was fun, the cause was serious.

“Our mission is to inspire and enable young people from the

communities we serve to reach their full potential as healthy, caring

and responsible citizens,” Maxwell said.

GROVES OF ACADEME

Roxanne E. Duka, a 12th grader at Phiillips Exeter Academy has

earned Highest Honors for the winter term. The daughter of Mr. and

Mrs. Lonnie Duka is in her third year at the independent secondary

school, founded in 1781 in New Hampshire.

John D. Shapiro, son of the Drs. Shapiro of Laguna Beach, is on

the dean’s list for academic achievement for the fall semester at

Washington University College of Arts and Sciences in St. Louis. He

is a graduate of Laguna Beach High School.

OUT ON THE TOWN

More than 150 parents and teachers recently enjoyed a night “On

The Town,” and raised $6,000 for the Thurston Middle School PTA.

Anastasia Cafe, Cedar Creek Inn, Ocean Brewing Co., Romeo Cucina

and Sundried Tomato provided appetizers and beverages leading up to

four-course dinner at Laguna Village Bistro, hosted by Karl Ziegler.

Zinc Cafe supplied the desserts.

Claes Anderson of Hotel Laguna and the Stansbury Family loaned

table linens and centerpieces of exotic bromeliads. The Laguna

Village setting set the mood for dancing to the music of the Stu

Pearlman Band.

Event chairs Kathleen Moore and Caroline Wright were so pleased

with the event they are committed to a reprise in 2005.

* 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, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

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