Three P’s for state’s first lady

B.W. COOK

A significant confluence of purpose and power came together for lunch

at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort.

California First Lady Maria Shriver was the power. An organization

known as 44 Women for Children was the purpose.

The luncheon event attracted a sold-out audience of 500

Newport-Mesa activists who came to raise an impressive six-figure sum

to establish a scholarship endowment fund for foster youth wishing to

attend college. The scholarship was named in memory of Linda Howard,

the late wife of Gene Howard, chief executive of the Orangewood

Children’s Foundation. Orangewood is the parent umbrella organization

under which 44 Women for Children is a local auxiliary. Linda Howard

passed away in October 2003, following an eight-month battle with

cancer.

It would be fitting to add the word passion in conjunction with

the terminology of power and purpose, making the scholarship luncheon

one of the most moving events to take place on the Orange Coast this

season.

Organized by Susan and Henry Samueli, the Shriver appearance was

orchestrated as a result of the personal relationship between the

Samueli and Schwarzenegger families. Corona del Mar resident Henry

Samueli is an Orange County business leader supporting Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger. Susan Samueli joined event chairs Carolyn McInerney

and Sally Clark in welcoming Shriver to the podium to address the

assemblage.

The crowd was spellbound. Shriver spoke extemporaneously and had

500 guests sitting at the edge of their seats. Her message was one of

service to community, finding common ground in a divided partisan

environment, and above all, seeking avenues to improve the condition

of humankind on many levels. Fittingly, the ideas shared were

applauded by residents raising money to enable youth with no

financial and, in many cases, no emotional and physical support to

seek higher education.

How many people realize that children raised in the foster system

are turned out on their own at age 18 and set forth into a world they

may not be prepared to face? Those who want to pursue an education

are left to fend for themselves, and governmental assistance may or

may not be available, depending on circumstance and situation.

The scholarship fund created by donors including Sally and Derek

Clark, Sandi and Douglas Jackson, Eve Kornyei and Stan Hanson, Cary

and Murray Lobel, Irene and Lucio Martino, Heidi and Nick

Shahrestany, Dr. Sanjay and Nina Grover and Jennifer and Anton

Segerstrom opens doors that will make an enormous difference in real

lives.

Shriver related to the theme of the day. Sharing with the audience

the experience of growing up in a family that created the concept of

the Peace Corps over the dinner table, the ideals of public service

and “giving back” are reminders of the importance of contribution and

connection of diverse people sustaining a democratic and free

society.

Supporting the Orangewood event were a cross section of donors,

including Maureen Armstrong, Betsy Flint, Elsa Martinez Phillips,

Keri Doyle, Laurie Hudson, Diane Coon, Nancy Vos, and Susan Kinsey.

Also sponsoring the luncheon and the fund were Gen. William Lyon and

his wife Willa Dean, Renee Lowe, Deborah Reames and Terry Schreyer.

Spotted in the crowd was local philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith.

“I am a Democrat, and I believe in the role of government in

providing programs to assist people in need. However, I also know

that the world has changed, and we can no longer rely on government

to solve our problems,” said Shriver, urging everyone in the audience

to become involved in anyway possible to help make a difference in

the community, the state and the nation.

In the end, as guests departed, there were whispers in the crowd

suggesting that perhaps Maria Shriver should consider running for

elected office. It was indeed an afternoon of power, purpose and

passion on the Orange Coast.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.