Black-tie gala aids cause for kids

The 13th annual “Celebration of Children,” an annual gala benefiting the Court Appointed Special Advocates, attracted the best and brightest of Orange County’s charitable community.

Some 500 people attired in black-tie dress converged upon the newly renovated Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa to make a difference for abused children in Orange County. An impressive $650,000 was raised by the end of the evening. Jim and Leslie Sullivan were awarded with the group’s children’s champions award, and Pat Cahill received the organization’s highest honor, named as advocate of the year.

The program included a very personal address by guest speaker Amy Taylor. A survivor of childhood abuse, Taylor shared her story, including her struggle to become a foster parent at age 18 so she could care for her three younger brothers. Taylor’s talk elicited applause, tears, and finally a standing ovation.

In the crowd were Vicky and Tom Abercrombie, Patti and Don Boortz, Mary Buckingham, Joan and Bill Cvengros, Scott and Marci Ferguson, Mari and Stan Frome, Susan and Les Goldstein, Lisa and Brad Hillgren, Julie and Buzz Howting, Linda and John Lopez, and Lori and Joe McKay.

Also front and center were Ann and Jim Morris, Kim and Mike Robertson, David and Janine Segal, Marta and Tom Tooma, Curtis and Donna Webb, and Gene and Shannon Zech.