THE CROWD:

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club was buzzing with activity Saturday night as parents and friends of Newport Harbor High School students joined forces to raise funds for the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation.

The nautical-themed party billed as “Anchors Away” attracted a diverse cross section of the community stepping up to contribute funds to enrich a multitude of needs and programs at the school.

The party began at sunset as the crowd arrived to enjoy a Saturday night cocktail and view the massive auction that had been prepared by a large committee of volunteers led by Arron Searcy, Wendy Thompson, Nancy D’Cruz, Kelly McKelvey, Sarah McElroy, Usha Delorme, Pam Hardenbergh, Marta Moghaddam, Suzy Peters and Lucy Pantoskey.

“This was the easiest auction I have ever worked on simply because people in the community wanted to contribute,” D’Cruz said. Her words were humble, however, the massive auction, which included some 50 pages of items in the catalog, was surely a labor of love and tremendous hard work.

The successful evening on the bay was chaired by two dedicated women, Sandy De Young and Cherise Ruiz,deserving much praise for their coordination of all the elements.

De Young, a perky blonde Bayshores resident and mother of two daughters, confessed, “I’m exhausted, but this was certainly worth it. What a great turnout for Newport Harbor.” She joined her co-chairwoman Ruiz receiving multiple pats on the back for their efforts.

The success was due in great part to the generosity of underwriters including the Roger De Young family, Anne Layton, the Connelly family, Mari and Stan Frome, Stacey and Greg Brown, Linda and Steve Case, Shelly and David Clark, Peter Anderson, Mary Jane Joslin, Linda and Kevin Pitts, Mary and Peter Rooney, the Searles family,and Ann and Eric Smyth.

This list is only the tip of the iceberg; there were literally dozens of additional contributors, all of whom deserve recognition.

Spotted in the crowd and also working the event were Nili Stevens, Muffy Nelson, Debbie Springer, Jill Kalmbach, Emily Evans, Karen Fabian, Cathy Kinney, Anne Strutner, Jeanne Carmack, and the decorations committee, which included Vivian Brown, Tracey Hawthorne, Kelli Stassel and Linda Case.

The décor crew created a whimsical touch by placing large clear glass fish bowls on the tables that featured live fish swimming around a center illuminated candle.

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club kitchen prepared delicious food stations including New York carved stripper, a mashed potato martini bar with all the trimmings and their signature chopped salad, which had patrons coming back for more.

A major dessert presentation topped off the evening as Newport Harbor teachers and administrators joined with parents and friends on the dance floor.

Organizers are still tallying the receipts but hope to meet or even surpass their goal of $150,000 earmarked for the Educational Foundation.

Funds will specifically be used for technology upgrades, instructional needs, assistance for special programs including the academic academies, counseling support and mentor programs.

Funds will also be donated to the “Angle Fund” which assists students with financial need enabling them to attend a variety of academic field trips.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.