Junior League makes it ‘Haute’
B.W. COOK
The Junior League of Orange County recently presented White Haute
Nights, its spring fundraiser at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in
Newport Beach.
Some 500 guests converged upon the coastal club on a balmy
Saturday night that felt more like summer. Event chair Lori Wagner,
working with Junior League president Kathleen Hill and a dedicated
group, created a fabulous evening by the bay for patrons who came to
sip a glass of wine on the waterfront terrace, enjoy a cigar on the
beach and participate in an evening of “Monte Carlo” gaming created
by party planners.
The evening began with a special reception held outdoors. As the
music of a steel drum band played, tarot card readings and cigar
rolling demonstrations entertained the crowd. As the evening crush
arrived, bartenders worked overtime blending Caribbean cocktails. A
buffet of Cuban cuisine was served as partygoers played casino games
and bid on silent auction items. The major prizes included a Mammoth
Mountain getaway, jewelry by David Yurman, a big screen TV, beauty
treatments and dining experiences at local haunts, such as Villa Nova
and Capri Blu. This year, the big drawing gave one lucky winner a
trip to Fiji.
Assisting Wagner was a group that included Heather Anderson,
chair-elect Angie Rowe, Isabelle Ord, Violet Ward, Denise Scott,
Susan Puskarich and Junior League president-elect Vicki Hassman.
Spotted in the crowd were yacht broker Mike Costa of Seanet,
Stephanie Kipkins, Todd and Lauren Sherman and Kelly Grose, another
of the committee members working on the event. Additional board
members deserving recognition include Stephanie Paggi, Marni Avery,
Linda McGill, MeeRan Kim, Amy Friedli, Marisa Bellisimo-Unvert and
Monica Johnson.
Also supporting the Junior League were Caroline Gray, Francine
Scaccia, Cindy Werth, Anna Wilson, Heather Smith and Kaira Brekke.
The event was decorated by Timree Gold.
Proceeds from White Haute Nights will go to the YMCA of Orange
County, Laura’s House, Canyon Acres Children’s Services, Court
Appointed Special Advocates, Impact Orange County, Orangewood
Foundation’s Bear Hugs and other Junior League-sponsored community
grants and youth scholarships.
For more information on the Junior League of Orange County, go to
https://www.jlocc.org.
* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.
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