THE CROWD:Fashion show funds children’s programs

“For The Love of a Child,” the spring fashion show and luncheon sponsored by South Coast Plaza benefiting the Orange County Chapter of Childhelp brought out the crowd last Monday in Newport Beach. The Island Hotel was the center of fashion and dining for 400 well-dressed local women who came to take a peek at fashions by Carolina Herrera, Dona Karan, Escada, St. John, and Tory Burch to name only a few of the designers sponsoring models on the South Coast Plaza runway.

It was the 21st fashion show and luncheon for Childhelp in Orange County, and organizers are expecting to raise more than $150,000 which is earmarked for the Childhelp facility known as Childhelp West in Beaumont. Funds raised will also support Childhelp group homes in Orange County.

Co-chaired by Katherine Meredith and Carol Packard, guests descended on the Island Hotel transformed by the Childhelp committee into a Venetian-themed decor.

The big honor of the day went to Ron and Ruth DeVries, recipients of the Orange County Chapter of Childhelp’s 2007 children’s friend award. The DeVries have been foster parents for 44 years, providing a home for 236 children. The couple received a handsome bronze sculpture created by artist Blair Buswell.

Spotted in the crowd were Cleo Bluth, Nancy Whitlock, Katherine Glassmyer representing South Coast Plaza, Orange County Childhelp President Shan Womack, Kim Doud, Nancy Cardin, Robin Iacono and Desiree Brown.

Newport’s Molly Calder reports that the very first Dolce and Gabanna juniors line will be presented by Saks Fifth Avenue South Coast Plaza on Saturday in store. The fashion show and sale will provide a 10% gift to the National Charity League Juniors, which benefits three local charities: Highhopes, Harry and Grace Steel Day Care Center, and Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. The event will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the third floor of Saks Fifth Avenue. Reservations are unnecessary.

Share Our Selves has confirmed its impressive chef lineup for the 14th annual Wild and Crazy Taco Night. Twenty of the most celebrated chefs in Orange County will present their very creative taco recipes on April 19 at the Share Our Selves facility in Costa Mesa.

Some of the participants include Franco Barone from Antonello, Chris Garnier from Roy’s Newport Beach, Allen Greeley from the Golden Truffle, and Pascal Olhats from Pascal’s. Organizers hope to raise $25,000 to help support Share Our Selves’ service to the community. Tickets are $50 and are sold in advance only. Please call Kathleen Bruski at (949) 515-5400, ext. 34, for ticket information. Or go to the Share Our Selves website www.shareourselves.org.

The local crowd in support of Mater Dei High School is in the final stages of preparation for the big social event of the year, Surf’s Up. The 15th annual dinner and auction takes place March 24 at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim. A crowd of more than 600 is expected for the dinner and dance that last year raised more than $375,000 for Mater Dei. Much of the financial success will come from the live and silent auctions.

For more information, call Pamela Coe at Mater Dei at (714) 850-9526, or go to www.materdei.org.

Newport’s lovely Nilli Stevens, representing Rancho Las Lomas, is working with Newport Harbor High School planning the 14th annual Building a Better Future benefit to be held at the Balboa Bay Club Saturday evening. Chaired by Sandy DeYoung of Bayshores, Cherise Ruiz and Cameron Williams, the St. Patrick’s Day dinner dance hopes to raise more than $200,000 for the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation. Some 400 generous guests are expected. Auction items include a trip to Hawaii and field passes to USC home games. For last-minute information and reservations please contact Diana Long, executive director of the Newport Harbor Education Foundation at (949) 646-1556 or e-mail dlong@nmusd.us.

Newport’s respected artist and writer Lauri Mendenhall is presenting a one-woman show at the Newport Beach Central Library through April 30. Mendenhall’s presentation is titled “Oddly Ordinary: An Exhibition of New Images.” The Cliffhaven resident will front an artist’s reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 27 in the Friends Meeting Room at the Central Library. For more information, contact Mendenhall at (949) 722-7772 or go to www.laurimendenhall.com.