THE CROWD:Lido group raises funds for O.C. children

My favorite society stringer, Marion Pickens, one of the grand dames of Lido Isle, reports that the Lido Committee of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County held its annual bridge benefit luncheon at the Lido clubhouse, raising $13,000 that will fund music enrichment programs for Orange County children.

At some charitable events, organizers are busy raffling off opportunities to win Jaguars and Mercedes-Benzes. At the Lido bridge event, a 3-year-old boy named Ryan Yates was the beneficiary of a blue Mercedes-Benz pedal car, won by his grandmother Ellie Yates. The shiny electric blue convertible was donated by Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Newport Beach.

The lovely bridge luncheon was chaired by Violet Lorenzen and included some 100 women dressed for spring. Bob Swanson and George Shaw also served chardonnay.

White cyclamen plants adorned the luncheon tables that became the site of a serious session of shuffling, dealing and bidding during an afternoon of bridge to benefit local children.

Stephen Salny, purveyor of the world of interior design and author of an acclaimed book on Frances Elkins, will address the Decorative Arts Society on April 17 at a garden reception honoring Salny and local underwriters, donors and sponsors.

Newport hostess Alana Donovan will welcome the crowd for luncheon in her garden introducing him to Decorative Arts aficionados.

The USC Town and Gown Junior Auxiliary of Orange County will host its 38th annual dinner and auction April 28 at the Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano. Co-chaired by Kim Dodds and Wendy Grant, this year’s party will take on a Mardi Gras theme featuring a New Orleans inspired menu, cocktails, dancing and live music by Dwight Kennedy’s New Orleans Dixie Kings.

Auction co-chairs Ashley McCormick and Nicole Finn have solicited fabulous prizes, including a five-night stay at the Marriott Vacation Club Resort in Hawaii, a shopping spree at South Coast Plaza, USC football tickets and much more to attract donors to help fund scholarships provided by the alumni group.

Formed in 1969, the Orange County Town and Gown has more than 50 members and many more supporters who have contributed more than $550,000 for scholarship benefits as a result of this annual affair.

Tickets to the Mardi Gras dinner and auction are $85 a person and can be reserved by calling Kellie Pendergest at (949) 636-5832 or at www.usctgjaoc.org/benefit.htm .

Actor and comedian Larry Miller attracted a full house of more than 350 guests and raised nearly $75,000 to benefit programs supported by the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa. The spring luncheon took place last month at the Newport Beach Marriot Hotel and Spa and was chaired by Carolyn Matthews.

She commented, “Larry Williams exceeded our expectations with his warmth, accessibility and good-hearted humor.” Matthews added: “This event raised funds to assist the community. It was truly a win-win for everyone.”

A most impressive fundraiser brought in $709,000 recently for the Orange County High School of the Arts. Nearly 500 guests attended the black-tie evening at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, helping the school to reach its goal of raising at least $4 million each year to support its students in the arts-oriented programs.

Chaired by Kate Peters and Doug Simao, the evening was titled “Masterpiece in the Making.” The dinner event was highlighted by the performance of some 250 singers and dancers from the school’s various programs putting on a fully staged show that included both classical and contemporary pieces.

Champion underwriters included Brad Ellis and Grace Chen-Ellis, Ellie and Michael Gordon, Valerie and Hans Imhof, Elizabeth and John Stahr, Stephanie and Cory Sukert and a host of local businesses and corporations supporting Orange County High School of the Arts.

Also front and center for the school was significant donor Michael Harrah of Caribou Industries, donating a seven-day cruise on the World as a live auction opportunity. Big name support for the school was also provided by prominent O.C. residents, including Paul Folino, Raj Bhathal, Robert Follman, Donald Kennedy and Julia Argyros.

They called it an “Affair to Remember,” as the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County gathered in Costa Mesa for a spring event created around the magic of movies.

Chaired by Robert Rosenberg and Jacque Dupont, the party attracted some 400 local guests who helped raise $175,000 to benefit the services of the Alzheimer’s Assn. locally.

Turnip Rose was the setting for the recent evening that began with live entertainment, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an awards presentation honoring Jerry Guibord as volunteer partner of the year, Patricia Bonadio as lifetime partner, Angel Varela, Sr., philanthropy partner, and Hutchings Heros as community partner.

The evening was dedicated to the memory of Gerard J. Dougher Sr. and was supported by a major donation from Dorothy Dougher, who doubled her contribution to the association from $25,000 to $50,000 during the evening’s presentation.

Alzheimer’s executive director Jim McAleer welcomed the local crowd, including Frank and Victoria Bonetti, Bob Barela, Robert Rosenberg, Carl Cotman, Carol DaCoste, Christine Wilkes and Laurie Ke.