A dazzling gathering for local charity

B.W. COOK

Orange County activist Julie David, founder and chief executive of A

Charity For Charities, produced a two-night holiday celebration she

is calling Holidazzle.

The Hyatt Newporter was the setting for the Dec. 10 and 11

fundraiser held on behalf of two Orange County nonprofits --

Childhelp USA and the Special Olympics.

David’s purpose is to bring together people of diverse religious

backgrounds and traditions to share their distinct culture and to

find some common ground. Therein lies the important link. Common

ground. At holiday time, or any time, we need to seek common values

that unite rather than divide. A most simple message, more crucial

than ever.

David enlisted showman John Vaughan, responsible for directing the

successful CHOC follies for many years under Gloria Zigner. Vaughan

assembled a holiday show filled with variations on the theme of

celebration. Life-sized dancing snowmen mixed with traditional Hebrew

dancers. The telling of “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” was, of

course, a favorite.

All this was built around a three-course dinner served by the

Hyatt, with plenty of mingling. Nearly 500 guests supported

Holidazzle over the two-night run, an impressive turnout for a

start-up function.

In the crowd were Jacque DuPont Baum and David Baum, Betty Belden

Palmer, Judy and Terry Jones, Jean and Bob Campbell, Alana and George

Hedley, and Nella Webster and Kevin O’Grady. Also supporting David

and Holidazzle were Patti and Jim Edwards, Eileen and Rich Saul,

Heidi and Doug Shurtleff, Jodi and Vince Ferragamo, Norma and Paul

Fruchbom and Sandra and Barry Silverman.

Funds raised will benefit local Special Olympics programs,

offering sports training in 20 Olympics-type sporting events for

children and adults. Also benefiting will be Childhelp USA,

supporting Beaumont Village, a residential treatment center for

abused and neglected children.

For more information on A Charity For Charities, please log on to

https://www.acharityforcharities.org or call (949) 361-6563.