THE CROWD:An extraordinary, charitable evening

A record-breaking amount of money was raised last weekend by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Some 700 well-dressed and well-intentioned guests joined Newport’s celebrity chef Jamie Gwen at the St. Regis Hotel in Monarch Beach, raising $2.3 million for Juvenile Diabetes Research at the Wild for a Cure gala. Co-chairwoman Jennifer Condas, looking spectacular in a strapless blue-and-white evening gown, joined equally dazzling co-chairwoman Elyse Roberts, who wore a black, fitted gown, with the goal of raising $2 million at what is the largest fundraiser in Orange County for Juvenile Diabetes.

By the end of the night they surpassed that lofty goal by more than $300,000. Louise Cummings, director of the foundation, said the organization “is the largest funder of juvenile diabetes [research] in the world. There is no greater philanthropic community than in Orange County, and we have exceeded our goal.”

Fundraisers are all about brining in the money to support any number of projects or causes. In the case of health-related concerns such as juvenile diabetes, these galas are always more than just about the money. The lives of children are on the line each and every day when afflicted with diabetes. No one knows the worry more than parents of diabetic children who manage a constant regime to be certain insulin levels do not destroy bodily function or cause death.

More than 20 years ago, the champions of the juvenile diabetes cause were the late oil magnet Marvin Davis and his wife, Barbara, at the time residents of Denver. The Davis family moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, buying 20th Century Fox and entering the world of entertainment. Davis used his fortune and connections to put the juvenile diabetes cause on the international map because he and his wife were the parents of a child, Dana Davis, who was afflicted. They started an annual fundraiser and called it the Carousel Ball, which attracted several U.S. presidents and first ladies over the years as well as countless senators, U.S. representatives, Fortune 500 executives and movie stars.

It was one of the major social events in all of America, and the Carousel Ball routinely raised upwards of $10 million to fund juvenile diabetes research.

The effort continues to this day; the ball is now held in Beverly Hills annually. I’m sharing this back story with you not to detract from the Orange County effort but rather to illustrate that I personally remember sitting at a grand table at the Carousel Ball in Denver in 1984 with Marvin and Barbara Davis standing with Nancy Reagan and Diana Ross telling the audience of supportive donors that they had raised $8 million and that with such funding, a cure would be found in a matter of a few years. That was 22 years ago, and there is no cure.

Despite the great advances of science — and all the money that has been raised for all the past decades — children are still dying of juvenile diabetes.

But we are closer to answers. We know so much more about the disease and how to manage it. The $2.3 million raised in Orange County this week is vital to moving the entire machine one step closer in the hopes of eradicating juvenile diabetes. No one knows this more that Phil and Charlene Bosl.

In an emotional address to the black-tie crowd Phil Bosl had the courage and the fortitude to share their most personal story about the recent death of their daughter, Ally. She was a college student who was doing extremely well and passed away unexpectedly in her sleep over Christmas from the insidious diabetic killer. Bosl pledged $100,000 to fund a new arm of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation called Fund A Cure.

As the crowd wept silently he told his fellow supporters that “he would have spent the money on his beautiful daughter’s wedding.” The emotional moment brought in additional pledges of $1,288,550 as people all over the ballroom stood up and generously offered all levels of giving in what was certainly one of the most amazing experiences in Orange County charitable contributions. Guests were astonished; they had never seen anything like it before.

Arnold Donald, president and chief executive of the foundation, commented, “This year the funds raised will be going to the development of the artificial pancreas, which will enable the body to obtain a more normal glucose level.”

Guests in the crowd shared their own personal stories about battling diabetes, including the evening’s honorees Tami and Mike Kahn of Bayshores, and the Seedman family: Joseph, Audrey, Eric, Michael and daughter-in-law Roberta.

Also in the crowd were the very dedicated Adrianne and Richard Thomas. Their son Scott, a law student, also battles juvenile diabetes. Orange County developer Harry Tancredi and his beautiful wife, Susan, and children, Adam and Megan, attended the St. Regis event.

Newport Realtor Chris Valli and his wife, Sharon, also were on hand, as well as Michele and Diane Stephens, Debbie Simon, Brian and Denice Mock, James and Linda Pierog, Joann Leatherby and Greg Bates, Cam Hunter, Greg and Donna Hood, Cynthia Stamper Graff, Katherine Glassmeyer, representing South Coast Plaza, and Dino and Leslie Cancellieri. Also seen in the crowd were Wing Lam, founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Chef Pascal Olhats and Chris Hubbel, Ayers and Wendy Boyd, Vincent and Vicki Capizzi , Larry and Nancy Silverberg, and Doug and Marilee Schneider to name only a few.

The St. Regis served a fabulous dinner, which was followed by a live auction led by Jeff Stokes. The party ended with entertainment by three-time Grammy-winner Bruce Hornsby, who started his performance around 11:30 p.m.

It was a very special evening to remember, supported by friends and families who obviously care about one another and most importantly about finding a cure for the children.