‘Shamrocks’ event a success

Lindsay Sandham

Spring arrived for Assistance League of Newport-Mesa just in time for

St. Patrick’s Day.

According to the calendar, spring begins Sunday, but the

organization held its annual spring fundraiser Thursday.

The theme of the event, “Shamrocks and Rainbows,” was chosen to

mark the holiday and to honor the memory of one of the league’s

members.

“‘Shamrocks’ is for St. Patrick’s and ‘Rainbows’ is because

‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ was the favorite song of Cheri Harris, a

member who passed away last year,” said Doris Hope, this year’s

fundraiser chairwoman.

Every year, the local Assistance League, one of 100 national

chapters, holds a luncheon event to raise money for its various

charities, among them the Cheri Harris Children’s Dental Center.

“We’re hoping to raise $75,000,” chapter President Chris Morgan

said. “Our dental center is huge and has a large budget, so that gets

the majority of our funds.”

Singer and actor Patrick Cassidy performed as part of the

luncheon’s festivities. Cassidy, son of actress Shirley Jones and the

late Jack Cassidy, is best known for his title role in the Broadway

hit, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

There were also silent and live auctions in which attendees could

bid on such prizes as an apartment in Paris, an ocean-view condo in

Maui and a Mercedes Benz pedal car.

Organizations benefiting from the event are:

* The Children’s Dental Center, for children from low-income

families who would not otherwise receive dental or orthodontic care.

The youngsters are referred to the center by the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District. Last year, 2,278 children were served at the center.

* Operation School Bell, a program for children of low-income

families to receive new clothing and school supplies at the beginning

of each school year. More than 1,000 children received new clothing,

shoes or school supplies through the program in 2004.

* The Kids on the Block, a program that uses life-size puppets to

perform skits on sometimes difficult topics, including race and

culture issues, divorce, gangs, rape and pregnancy.

* Community Outreach, a collaboration of Assistance League and

other community agencies to help bring financial aid to low-income

families for day care expenses, scholarships for special-needs

students, scholarships for high school students and aid to families

with children in the Orange Coast preschool program.