THE CROWD:

It was a Christmas party to remember. The 41st annual Christmas Carol Ball benefiting Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian raised more than $500,000. Proceeds will benefit the Hoag Neuroscience Institute.

Hosted by the 552 Club, the black-tie party attracted a wide range of community support converging on the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel. Co-chaired by the dedicated Bob and Amanda Hogan, the party cast a holiday spell over the elegant crowd. “Year after year, Hoag supporters display the true spirit of Christmas by generously contributing to the ongoing development of Hoag Hospital,” commented Hogan. His wife Amanda added, “This is the best holiday gift for Hoag.”

Major financial support for the Christmas Carol Ball came from Newport’s Ron and Sandi Simon, Edie Fedishon in memory of Lena Fedishon, and Newport Coast couple Suki and Randy McCardle. In the crowd were Hoag Hospital Foundation chairman Jim Madden and his wife Heather, Hoag Chief Executive and President Dr. Richard Afable and his wife, Sally, and Hoag Hospital chief of staff Dr. Neil Barth and his wife, Kerry.

Kenny Rozak was introduced as the new commodore of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar. A Sunday celebration officially introduced Rozak, the son of longtime yacht club members Patti and Keith Rozak. Rozak is a USC grad and Sigma Chi fraternity boy who is active in real estate investment. The Newport Beach resident and his wife, Wendy, are avid sailors, cruising the bay on their 50-foot Ocean Alexander christened Kee-Ra. Founded in 1958, Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club has won many honors as an outstanding yachting organization over the years including being named the 2005 Yacht Club of the Year by the Southern California Yachting Association. The club is also involved in many philanthropic activities throughout the year including the annual Leukemia Cup to raise funds for cancer research.

The Corona del Mar Home Tour was a smashing success raising significant dollars for local schools. The 34th home tour event began with breakfast at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Island. Participants then took the tour, which included a selection of the most elegant homes on the California Riviera. A 12,000-square-foot Newport Coast estate, an elegant Shady Canyon villa, and a breathtaking ocean view residence were among the highlights of the day’s tour.

Each residence included displays by top decorators and vendors including Hawaiian decor from Gary’s Island Home Store in Fashion Island, and ultra fine home accessories from Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s home store. Dining rooms featured table settings from Villeroy & Boch and silverware from Christofle. Magnificent florals from Bliss Florist, Fiore, Urban Gardener, Bristol Farms and Gelson’s adorned the homes.

Participants stopped to enjoy luncheon catered by Pascal at Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar, then continued on the tour for the rest of the afternoon, concluding the fun-filled day with a cocktail reception hosted by Blue Coral restaurant.

Christmas Company 2007 raised significant funds for the Junior League of Orange County. This year’s event, themed “The Spirit of Christmas,” kicked off the holiday season with a shopping extravaganza at the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center. More than 600 guests attended the opening night party, which organizers billed as an evening of food and wine. Local restaurants, vendors, wineries and purveyors of spirits went all out to create a lavish holiday spread to make the evening merry.

It was the 32nd anniversary of the Christmas Company, which raises more than $250,000 annually for the Junior League and the organizations that it sponsors. To date, community partners including the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Art Center, Casa Teresa, Girls Inc., Orangewood Children’s Foundation’s Bridges to Higher Learning, Impact Orange County, Bear Hugs, and the Orange County Bar Assn. have shared in over $6.5 million raised by the Junior League through the Christmas Company event.

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