Taking a taste to provide a chance

B.W. COOK

Newborn babies in Orange County with health challenges will have a

better chance, thanks to Newport-Mesa citizens who rallied recently

on behalf of the March of Dimes.

More than $130,000 in net profit was raised by “A Taste of the

Palate,” a culinary extravaganza featuring the food and wine of local

chefs and their restaurants. Co-chaired by Jodie Carroll and Barry

Porter, the March of Dimes evening at the St. Regis Monarch Beach

Resort attracted some 450 guests, many from Newport-Mesa. In addition

to funds raised through ticket attendance, a lively auction fronted

by UCI professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and

Gynecology Manuel Porto raised additional donations for O.C.’s

youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Big names in the world of music -- Seal, Macy Gray, Boney James

and Jennifer York -- joined forces for the Orangewood Children’s

Foundation. Newport’s Keri Doyle chaired a concert-fundraiser on

behalf of “44 Women for Children,” an auxiliary of Orangewood.

The venue was the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. With the support of

Clear Channel Entertainment and a host of generous corporate and

individual sponsors, including Commercial Capital Bank, Adelphia,

Mybar Printing and the Samueli Foundation, the evening attracted an

enormous crowd of support for the children assisted by Orangewood.

Founded by Susan Samueli of Corona del Mar, 44 Women is a small

but active support wing with a board of directors that includes

locals Sandi Jackson, Elsa Martinez Phillips, Sally Clark, Maureen

Armstrong, Heidi Shahrestany and Nancy Vos, to name only a few. A

dedicated committee of volunteers assisting Doyle also included

Laurie Hudson, Madaline Gordon, Pam Selber Weston and Corona del

Mar’s most charitable gal about town, Eve Kornyei.

Ballet Pacifica presented a “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” this week at

the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach. A sold-out ballroom

by the bay brought in ladies in summer hats to enjoy a luncheon at

the Club and partake in a very special ballet presentation of

segments from “Alice in Wonderland,” which will be formally presented

by the local ballet company Oct. 1 to 3 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

on the UCI campus.

Robyn Grant and Yvonne Riley co-chaired the massive undertaking at

the BBC in honor of 40 years of performances in Orange County

presented by Ballet Pacifica. Robert Sund, an award-winning

choreographer, addressed the crowd prior to a vignette presentation

of his production of “Alice in Wonderland,” featuring Kristen McIssac

as Alice and Bryan Ketron as the Mad Hatter.

Also supporting the BBC event were Ann Nutt, Janet Ray, Donna

Cohn, Irene Martino, Allison Olmstead, Kathalleyne McCullough,

Heather Houtson, Laura Baratta and Janet Stoneman.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.