THE CROWD:

The fashion house of Giorgio Armani generously opened its formidable doors at the South Coast Plaza boutique welcoming Angelitos de Oro Angelitos de Oro in support of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County.

The elegant cocktail reception launched the 2008 Angelitos Shopping Card extravaganza at South Coast Plaza, which runs Nov. 5 through Nov. 10. This annual fundraising event is created around members of Angelitos in conjunction with South Coast Plaza selling a $60 card entitling the bearer to a 20% discount at 124 stores at the nation’s glamorous retail center.

This year marks the seventh that South Coast Plaza has partnered with the Angelitos group, and the charity is hoping to surpass last year’s record of $185,000 raised for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County.

The Armani party was attended by 135 well-dressed supporters of Angelitos. Kimberlee Belli and Jana Hackett will be chairwomen of the card drive this year. A highlight of the evening was the introduction of Siobhan Cooper, who is the Angelitos Big Sister of the Year. Cooper shared her personal story detailing her relationship with her “little brother.”

As the exquisite Armani models displayed the fall and winter 2008 collection, the crowd toasted the work of the Angelitos and sampled hors d’oeuvres.

Sharing cocktail conversation were Gus Valdespino, chief executive of Big Brothers/Big Sisters Orange County, Mary Crosson, Pilar Wayne, Marilyn Wooten, Martha Crowner, Cecilia Nott and Angelitos de Oro President Laraine Eggleston, escorted by her husband, David Eggleston.

Also on hand for the kickoff celebration were the incredible Giorgio Armani party co-chairs Toni Berlinger and Sandy Perlmutter. Lido Isle’s charitable couple Judy and Joel Slutzky, Gigi Spragins, Kate and George Eastman, Carolyn Garrett, Ann Raney, David Kermen, Judy Threshie and Newport’s civic-minded couple Susan and Sam Anderson all attended in support of Angelitos de Oro.

Giorgio Armani, represented by store manager Hunter Tate, donated 10% of the evening’s proceeds to Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Orange County.

The Big Brother/Big Sisters motto is, “To help children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that have a measurable impact.”

To purchase an Angelitos shopping card, call (949) 642-9883 or visit www.angelitosdeoro.org or stop by any concierge desk at South Coast Plaza. Remember, the shopping week begins Nov. 5.

The 15th annual Mighty Ducky Derby and the third annual “Just Ducky Car Show” attracted thousands of supporters and about 10,000 yellow rubber ducks for the big water park event held recently at Wild Rivers. Newport’s Peggy Goldwater Clay joined Lisa Fujimoto and Ron Dominguez, former president of Disneyland, to co-chair the day in the sun, raising $165,000 for the Children’s Bureau of Orange County.

It was democracy at its finest as some 3,000 attendees arrived in bathing suits and T-shirts. There was no one-upmanship in the wardrobe department, and plenty of happy kids and parents enjoyed a carefree day in California’s Indian Summer season. Donors were invited to a reception in the park featuring food stations from a wide selection of Newport-Mesa restaurants and vendors.

Wonderful food from the Hyatt Regency Irvine and Newport Beach, Lawry’s Carvery, Downtown Disney, Sage, Royal Thai, Bluewater Grill and so many more was generously donated and offered to the hungry and wet revelers.

While it is not PC to name a favorite among this stellar group, the In-N-Out Burger truck has always been present for this event and at the top of the food chain.

Since its inception some 15 years ago, the Ducky Derby has raised more than $1.7 million for the Children’s Bureau. Event co-chair Lisa Fujimoto introduced party emcee Phillip Palmer from the ABC-TV channel 7 news team to get the big rubber ducky event started. For those unfamiliar, donors purchase a yellow rubber ducky that is numbered and placed at the starting line of the Wild Rivers Lazy River.

When the race gets underway and the ducks are released in the Lazy River from a giant net, the contestants float furiously down the waterway to the finish line where lucky duckies receive amazing prizes.

This year’s grand prize was the choice of a 2008 Harley Davidson XL883 Sportster or $7,500 in cash. First prize was a family trip for four including airfare to the Hyatt Regency Maui. There was also a prize that put the lucky winner in the Mickey Mouse penthouse suite in Disneyland.

The Children’s Bureau, a project near and dear to philanthropist Donna Crean and her late husband, John Crean, helps some 7,000 children and parents each year in the Orange County area providing a wide range of assistance and resources.

For more information on the Children’s Bureau, call (714) 517-1900.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.