Ladies night benefits children’s charity

It was a ladies-only night as the Sophisticates of the Assessment and

Treatment Services Center held its 23rd annual membership reception.

The ocean view estate of Cindy and John Gates of Newport Beach was

the setting for the cocktail reception and dinner that welcomed

longtime Sophisticates as well as more than 40 prospective new

members from the Newport-Mesa community. In all, some 100 very

fashionable women toasted champagne flutes at sunset in recognition

of an organization that has promoted child welfare for more than two

decades.

The group’s familiar motto remains, “Arrest the problem not the

child.”

The evening was chaired by the lovely duo of Carol Pontremoli and

Barbara Magness with major support from Sophisticates president

Marsha Willis, Debbie Newmeyer and Susan Becker.

Host Cindy Gates went all out for her guests, providing a

wonderful dinner served by Chef David Catering.

Since it was a ladies-only night, husband John Gates was forced to

hide in the master suite. Organizers did break the ladies-only rule

by inviting Dr. Paul Gerherdt, clinical director of the Assessment

and Treatment Services Center, to address the gathering on the work

of the organization.

On Oct. 13 the Sophisticates will hold a luncheon at Dolche

Restaurant in Newport Beach, open to members and prospective members.

To join the fun, call Christy Netro at (714) 730-6529.

Newport-Mesa friends of the Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation

traveled to Holmby Hills at the invitation of Hugh Hefner, who opened

the doors to the Playboy Mansion last week for a dinner event with

the purpose of raising money to support the work of the foundation

named for the late Nicole Brown Simpson.

Denise Brown fronted the affair on behalf of family and friends,

welcoming both the Los Angeles and Orange County crowd to the party.

In addition to the foundation and its work with victims of

domestic violence, a residential-care facility named Nicole’s House

has also been established as a shelter for women and children in

danger.

Donations from the evening at the Playboy Mansion are earmarked

for the building of the shelter that is intended to provide housing

over an 18- to 24-month transitional period for victims of domestic

violence. To get involved, call Denise Brown at (949) 283-5330.

Newport’s dedicated Judith Burnett joined Flory Van Beek and

Desiree Kessel as honorees of the 2005 Women of Valor brunch

sponsored by the Jewish National Fund of Orange County and Long

Beach.

The recent luncheon reception and program took place at Temple Bat

Yahm in Newport Beach and featured guest speaker and author Donna

Rosenthal. Chaired by Esther Sterling and Ora Rov, the event

attracted a cross section of community support.

Funds raised will support Jewish National Fund programs in Israel.

Supporting the event were Adel Alterman, Marjorie Hess, Judith

Kirkley, Rose Ruttenberg, Rochelle Sieger, Wendy Strauss and Robin

Yonis, to name only a few.

The Orange County Museum of Art hosted an art auction featuring

contemporary works from American artists.

Museum representative Kelly Dickson said, “We sold art for every

taste and every budget.”

In addition to the live auction the museum added an online

auction, opening the sale to bidders from coast to coast. The new

online auction helped raise the bar for funds that will assist museum

education and outreach programs.

The evening began with a sunset cocktail and hors d’ oeuvres

reception that also included a silent auction for various works of

art. The live auction followed and was led by guest auctioneer Andrea

Fiuczynski, president of Christies Los Angeles.

Internationally recognized artists, including Jasper Johns, Ed

Ruscha, Peter Alexander, Tony DeLap, Ed Moses, Tony Oursler,

Catherine Opie and many others were featured in this years art

auction.

Newport’s Lana Chandler reports that the “Roadster Rumble”

Fundraiser on behalf of the Suzanne Renee Leider Memorial Assistance

Fund of the Sarcoma Alliance was a major success with proceeds

expected to top $50,000 from the recent Saturday night party.

Some 200 O.C. guests went to Joe’s Garage in Tustin, also known as

the Joe MacPherson Automotive Museum. The evening was a casual affair

with music from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s to compliment the car

collection and to set the mood and tone for the party.

It was the second annual fundraiser in memory of Suzanne Leider, a

graduate of Newport Harbor High School, who died at 33 years of age

from sarcoma. For more information, contact Lana Chandler at (949)

721-0475.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.