THE CROWD:Generous support for Girls Inc.

David and Nancy Sheffner of Lido Isle chaired a dinner on behalf of Girls Inc. Orange County.

An impressive $375,000 was raised from generous private and corporate underwriters, including Paragon Biomedical of Irvine, RAJ Manufacturing of Tustin, the Argyros Foundation and some very dedicated Newport Beach families — Sue and Ralph Stern, Harriet and Sandy Sandhu, and Gigi and Dan Werbin.

Funds raised will support a variety of programs and services for some 4,000 local girls throughout Orange County.

The Island Hotel, Newport Beach, was the setting for the dinner and auction that attracted some 430 friends of Girls Inc.

The nonprofit organization has served Orange County since 1954 and proudly spreads its mission statement, “investing in the lives of girls to inspire them to be strong, smart and bold.”

The mistress of ceremonies for the evening was Sandra Robbie, an Emmy-winning documentary producer responsible for “Menendez vs. Westminster,” the story of school desegregation in Orange County in the late 1940s.

Robbie was joined by celebrity guest Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a recordbreaking Olympic track and field athlete. Kersee, the author of two books, addressed the crowd with passion, pride and purpose.