THE CROWD:Hands-on support for at-risk youth

The fall social season in Newport is welcomed with certain special annual events. One of the anticipated luncheons is given by philanthropist Susan Samueli on the grounds of her oceanfront residence in Corona del Mar.

The charity benefiting from Samueli’s generosity is a group known as 44 Women for Children, in association with the Orangewood Children’s Foundation. This is one of the most focused and significant charitable endeavors in a community boasting some 2,000 organizations.

Why? Because the people involved are hands-on in terms of changing lives.

44 Women — founded by Samueli — is a group of just that, 44 primary donors who raise funds used to send emancipated foster children to college.

Think about the ramifications of such acts of financial support. First, a child of the foster system is released into the adult world at 18. Good luck.

Who is there to inspire and to finance educational goals?

Second, society is affected as these young people are given options to discover a productive life with a few open doors, rather than doors that are often slammed and closed.

It’s all about facing harsh reality by women of substance and privilege who put money into the hands of young people with more need than most.

This week in Corona del Mar, at the fall luncheon of 44 Women, Samueli and her friends raised some $125,000 toward their goal.

Boastful? Perhaps, but it is $125,000 that will change lives and change the world.

Since its founding in 1999, the group has raised $1 million. That’s worth applause. Karen Goldhirsch served as chair of this season’s gathering, which had a sold-out attendance of 300 guests without the benefit of mass-mailed invitations. The ladies of 44 Women simply got on the phone, called friends and supporters, and filled the tables.

The mid-week event began with an oceanfront reception on the lawn of the Samueli estate, formerly the home of the elegant Lillian Fluor, who was also very active in Orange County social and charitable circles.

The festivities began with a brief welcome addresses from Samueli and Ariela Shani, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus at Fashion Island — producers of the fashion show that was the frontispiece of entertainment for the day.

Shani is relatively new to the Newport crowd, but already very much loved and respected for her support of the community chest. The Neiman Marcus connection is coveted by charitable groups that have worked closely with marketing star Michaele Hall, also front and center in support of 44 Women.

A high-energy runway show of fall fashion from the international designers supplying Neiman Marcus displayed the latest interpretations for the fashionably hip woman and man, as well.

Lunch was served by Brian Munzell and his Culinary Chic staff at round tables on the lawn draped in silver tufted cloths and shaded by market umbrellas.

White linen napkins and clear square vases filled with yellow and orange roses set the color theme. Urns of fall roses and additional flowers in the yellow and orange color theme created by Living Design were repeated all along the Samueli terrace. Very chic indeed.

The dining staff poured Markham Sauvignon Blanc-Napa Valley and passed a cocktail called the Apricot Appealer in a martini glass, which was naturally color coordinated with the party decor — all supervised by the tastemakers at Neiman Marcus.

The major sponsors of the day included Renee Pepys-Lowe, Heidi Shahrestany, Donna Phelps, Madaline Gordon, Deborah Bridges, Cindy Dillon, Christyne Olson, and of course, the Samueli Foundation, to name a few.

As lunch was served on square while porcelain plates — featuring a selection of tastes including pistachio crusted halibut, chicken curry salad on endive and a green salad with avocado, apricots and candied walnuts — ladies and gents table hopped.

In the crowd were Harbor Island’s glamorous Debbie Simon, Irene Mathews, Twyla Martin, Rosalie Freedman, Jennifer Segerstrom, Laura Davis, Valaree Wahler, Eve Kornyei, Beth Hallett, Ivette Moses, Donna Fisher, Francisca Baldwin, Sue Kreuter, Sandi Jackson, Keri Doyle, Susan Kinsey and Nancy Vos.

Also supporting 44 Women were Anne Crawford, Cindy Dillon, Patti Edwards, Cheryl Holden, Maddy Waters, Irma Goerner and a long list of generous local donors supporting the silent auction, as well as assisting underwriting the luncheon.

The highlight of the program was surely the address by Morgan Kashinsky, 23, a 2004 UC Irvine undergrad and Guardian Scholar supported by Orangewood and 44 Women.

She recently completed her master’s degree at USC and has been hired by a prominent Orange County organization involved with assisting at-risk youth. Clearly the circle of support was defined by Kashinsky, who now works with other youth facing challenges similar to her own.

Bravo, 44 Women for Children. Champagne toasts were appropriate as the party continued late into the afternoon with patrons visiting Neiman’s new Art of Fashion Collection back at the Newport salon in Fashion Island.