THE CROWD:$800,000 raised for O.C. food bank

The Harvesters have raised $800,000 in support of its annual fashion luncheon Oct. 12 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.

That’s impressive. Last week in Costa Mesa, the group of young socialites and their husbands, friends and associates converged on the glamorous new Segerstrom Center for the Arts to celebrate their milestone underwriting victory.

The confab of the young, rich and dressed to kill joined sponsor Louis Vuitton, represented by corporate Vice President Karen Watkins, for an evening of cocktail conversation in the dramatic lobby of the new arts center.

On hand for the event were arts center benefactor Henry Segerstrom and his wife Elizabeth. The Harvesters honored Segerstrom with their “Humanitarian Against Hunger” award, presented jointly with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

Amid all the high-brow social mingling remains the urgent message that too many people are starving in one of the wealthiest communities in the entire world.

Estimates reflect that some 450,000 people face hunger each month in Orange County. The Second Harvest Food Bank recently received a donated building at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station that will enable the organization to expand its reach to assist the hungry.

For this reason alone, the Harvesters underwriting will be of tremendous value. Joe Schoenigh of the food bank reports that 92.4 cents of every dollar collected goes to feed the hungry in Orange County.

The Harvesters co-chairs for the 2006 fundraising season are Carmela Phillips and Robin McMonigle. The dynamic duo joined donors — including Helen and Bill Close, Lily and Paul Merage, Jean and Tim Weiss, Diane and Charlie Cotton and Madeline and Stephen Gorden — for the Vuitton reception.

They will be joined by additional major donors Julia and Mark Post, Joe and Carol Weller, Dwight Manley, Heather and Brant Hartsock, Sherri Worth Nourse, Sally Crockett, Teddie Ray, Jennifer Van Bergh, Jill Tucker, Eve Kornyei, Nancy Baldwin, Maria Cooper and many more in support of the 14th annual big fashion bash, produced by South Coast Plaza next week.

Prominent social activist Peggy Goldwater Clay has joined the ranks of the movers and shakers supporting development of the Great Park.

Peggy dropped in Wednesday carrying a yellow rose bush, which matched the yellow rose on the cover of her invitation to the luncheon Oct. 25 at Shady Canyon Golf Club to launch the Botanical Garden Project at the Great Park.

Master designer Ken Smith will collaborate with renowned landscape architect Mia Lehrer and landscape artist Mary Miss at the upcoming event, sharing with the crowd all of the plans — as well as dreams — for the making of a botanical garden in O.C.

Local social stars involved are luncheon chair Jill Johnson Tucker, Diane Cotton, Jennifer Van Bergh, Joni Heil-Brice, Teddie Ray and Rick Hume.

Some of the A-list Newport women supporting the effort include Sandra Ayres, Hyla Bertea, Mary Buckingham, Elana Donovan, Tracy Gottlieb, Pam Nestande, Cecelia Nott, Marion Palley, Janet Ray and Shannon Tarnutzer, to name only a few.

Peggy Clay also shares that her niece, C.C. Goldwater — daughter of her sister Joanne — has produced a documentary on their patriarch, the late Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona.

The critically acclaimed film is airing on HBO during the month of October, titled “Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater.” It’s a must see.

Fabulous designer furnishings have been donated to Design 2 Care — the first live and silent auction involving Stonemill Design Center and Adult Day Services of Orange County.

On Oct. 12, the public will have an opportunity to purchase high quality furniture, accessories, lamps, rugs, mirrors and many unique designer items at the Design 2 Care auction and party.

All proceeds will benefit Adult Day Services of Orange County, a Hoag Health Partnership. It is the only state-designated Alzheimer’s daycare resource center in Orange County.

Following the silent auction, guest speaker Lyn Peterson, president of Motif Designs, will introduce her latest book “Real Life Renovating.” The party and live auction follows.

The live and silent auctions are free and open to the public. Tickets to the party are $25 and may be purchased at the door. For more information, call (714) 593-9630 or visit www.design2care.com.