From the seas to high teas and Hollywood

B.W. COOK

Newport went Hollywood for the Doheny Eye Institute. The Luminaires,

a volunteer support wing of the institute, threw a gala dinner at

Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, attracting a large turnout of

Southern California support.

Newport Beach was represented by Barbara Nielsen, serving on the

gala committee with Bea Stathatos, Mary Cooper, Mary Jane Harris,

Mary Jane Kurlander and Bobbie Niblo. The evening, billed as “Let Us

Entertain You,” was chaired by Jackie Flynn with assistance from Rita

Coulter.

The Doheny Eye Institute was founded in 1947 by Mrs. Edward L.

Doheny of Beverly Hills. The support chapters were established in

1974 by Mrs. Gordon B. Crary, Jr., including the Luminaires, the

Luminaires Juniors and the Luminaires of Orange County. Additional

Newport-Mesa support comes from Janet and Leonard Marangi, Susan and

William Wofford, Carolyn and George Kinkle, Mary Lane, Bobbie Galpin,

Ollie Lynn, and Betty Ann and Frank Brooks. Donors have raised a most

impressive $4.9 million for the eye institute since the inception of

the support chapters. Funds raised have supported a full range of

ophthalmic services for all citizens seeking help with vision

problems.

The 15th annual Pediatric Adolescent Diabetics Research Education

foundation sponsored “Sea of Love,” raising some $300,000 for

pediatric diabetes research in Orange County. The foundation

attracted 800 concerned citizens, many of them directly involved in

the search for a cure for diabetes. An amazing auction, featuring 400

donated items, helped raise the financial bar. Chaired by Susan

Savage and Susan Cannon, with emcee duties handled by Robert Savage,

chief executive of Taco Bell, the evening at The Hyatt Regency

Huntington Beach Resort was a sellout. Local support for the event

came from Penny Lopez, Kathy McGuigan, Lori Fieger, Toni Simmons,

Danielle Fields, Sheila Burroughs, Susan Brennan and Sharon and Rick

Wackeen.

It was all about hats. “The Fancy Hat” tea party benefiting

CareGiving Solutions brought together 80 women showing off their

finest millinery. The English “high tea” was started by Elana Peters

in 1990 to raise funds for CareGiving, an organization devoted to

“the education and empowerment of family caregivers with the goal of

improving the quality of life for older adults,” offered Kathy

Infantino, a local volunteer. The tea raised more than $9,000 and

featured a fashion show by Working Wardrobes, an organization

dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence preparing to

re-enter the workforce. Gently used clothing from the Hanger was

modeled.

Newport-Mesa support came from Mary Buckingham, Susan Kay, Ferial

Maghami, Pauline Nelson, Angela Rodriquez, Marty Burbank and Brenda

Martin. For more information on CareGiving Solutions, please call

(949) 253-4140.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.