Fundraising, celebrating on the water

B.W. COOK

Anthony’s Riverboat Restaurant opened its doors to the board of

directors of Parent Help USA.

The annual dinner brought together Newport-Mesa citizens focused

on preventing child abuse. Their work throughout the year helps fund

a Newport Beach child-abuse-prevention center, founded in 1987 by

Sally Kanarek under the slogan “mothers and others against child

abuse.”

Superior Court Judge Jamoa Moberly, who has presided in the Harbor

Justice Court in Newport Beach for a decade, addressed the dinner

gathering. Moberly attended with her husband, Mike Caruso, and was

joined by locals, including Steve and Michelle Oglevie, Nancy and

Bret Buschetto, Mirdy and Jim Wood, Jeannie Knight and the honored

guests of the evening: Viviane Oglevie, Charlotte Kies, Nora

Wakefield and Bunny Richards -- all receiving special recognition for

their dedication to Parent Help USA.

For more information on the organization, please call (949)

650-3461.

Lovely Grace Leavitt of Bayshores turned 90 and celebrated a

milestone birthday by being toasted by friends and neighbors at a

chic summer cocktail reception at the residence of Alex Kochnuk and

Billy Spratlin, followed by dinner in the Governor’s Room at the

Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach.

Leavitt was surrounded by her sister Anne and many friends,

including Jean Macino and Laird Blue, Janice and Pat Gormley, and

Marilyn Morgan, sharing stories of a life evolving through all manner

of circumstances.

Leavitt has lived in Bayshores for more than 60 years, after

moving in just at the close of World War II.

“This is an evening of love,” she said, thanking her hosts for a

birthday filled with flowers and warmth.

A cake, with blazing with candles, was served at the Macino-Blue

residence in Bayshores to complete the evening on the bay in honor of

a very special lady.

The ship Endeavor left the bayfront docks in front of one of

Newport’s favorite haunts, Billy’s at the Beach, for a Sunday sunset

cruise this week with a special purpose. Champagne flowed and

renowned jazz artist Eric Marienthal and his band entertained as a

full cruise of dedicated Newporters set sail to fight cancer.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosted the $100-per-person outing

to raise funds and awareness of the great need to assist those

fighting the diseases. Organizers Connie and Tod O’Conner called the

Sunday-evening sail a “cruise for a cure.” More than $20,000 was

raised to help make a difference.

The Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research Foundation marked its

20th anniversary recently with a fashion show and dinner held at the

Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach.

Called Celebrating Heroes, the event was supported by Fashion

Island purveyors, including sponsor Robinsons May, with proceeds

benefiting juvenile-diabetes research. In the 16 years since the

debut of the fashion show gala, the foundation has raised more than

$1 million for diabetes-research, education and support programs.

Founder John Haretakis was honored with the first annual award of

merit, given in his name. The evening was co-chaired by Susan Savage

and Susan Cannon, with dedicated help from Robert Savage, Paula

Baker, Roberta Barron, Susan Brennan, Michelle De Haven, Lori Fieger,

Kelly Kay and Rick Wackeen, to name only a few.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.