A gala for a special cause

B.W. COOK

Organizers of the Orange County Special Olympics reported that a

recent gala dinner event has netted $180,000 to date.

Event chairman Betty Belden Palmer, one of Orange County’s most

dedicated philanthropists, shared that expectations are running high

for Special Olympics to top $200,000 in donations when all the funds

are tallied.

The third annual celebration dinner, entitled “Olympians On

Parade,” attracted some 450 guests to the Disneyland Hotel recently

for an evening of dining, dancing and honoring gifted athletes with

special circumstances living in the Orange County community.

Community fundraising exceeded expectations by more than 20%, raising

the excitement level.

The highlight of the evening was the “Parade of Champions,” which

featured Orange County Special Olympians. Mickey Mouse and Donald

Duck led the parade, which also included U.S. Olympians who were

escorted by Orange County Special Olympics athletes.

Among the Olympians on hand for the event were beach volleyball

gold medalist Dain Blanton; 1976 swimming gold medalist Bruce

Furniss; two-time water polo Olympian Bob Horn; 1984 volleyball

silver medalist Debbie Green-Vargas; two-time kayaking Olympian Cliff

Meidl; and from Newport Beach, 1976 swimming silver medalist Tim

Shaw. Also supporting Special Olympics were Jan Palchikoff, Joe

Vargas and Paula Weishoff.

TV anchor Ed Arnold served as master of ceremonies for the

evening. The committee of Newport-Mesa patrons supporting Belden

Palmer included Peggy Goldwater Clay, Jan Landstrom, Joann Waldron,

Harry Adler, Bryan Elliott and Lana Chandler, to name only a few.

Special honorees of the evening included Leo Brennan of Las Vegas,

who was named 2005 Man of the Year to recognize the contributions of

his company, Cox Communications, to Orange County Special Olympics.

Football great Vince Ferragamo was honored with the inaugural Madelyn

Evans Humanitarian Award in recognition of more than 23 years of

service to Special Olympics.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics

provides sports training and athletic competition to more than 1.3

million people in 170 countries worldwide. Orange County’s chapter

serves 1,500 athletes and plans to increase its athletic base to

2,500 by the end of 2006.

In the crowd, enjoying a very special evening, were Carolyn and

Bill Hardy, Betsy and Don Tarbell, Mary and Wally Frome, Jan and Bob

Wilhelm and Dorothy and Don Kennedy. Also supporting the cause were

Shirley and Joe MacPherson, Barbara Campbell Ramsey, Milt and Amelia

Madole, Gayle Graef, Rick Guerrero, Jerry Hime, Ruth Stewart and

Sandy Madsen.

The motto of Special Olympics is “Inspire Greatness.” To get

involved, visit the group’s website at https://www.sosc.org.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.