THE CROWD:

Children’s Hospital of Orange County has been an invaluable community resource for decades. Recently the 44-year-old hospital celebrated an inaugural event in Newport Beach. The first “CHOC Cherishes Children” Gala unfolded Jan. 24 at the Island Hotel chaired by Heather MaddenHeather Madden. Joining Madden were Christine Bren, Monica Furman, Kathryn Glassmyer, Lori Hirth, and Dave and Marsha Willis helping to raise $335,000 in support of the hospital that saves children’s lives every day.

The crowd included VIP guests such as tennis star Lindsay Davenport and her husband, Jonathan Leach, and Angels pitcher Joe Saunders and his beautiful wife, Shanel.

Newport-Mesa standouts in the crowd included Brian and Lori Hirth, Greg and Asha Genske, Bill and Chris Griffith, hotelier Paul Makarachian, and “Hot Pocket” mogul Paul Mirage of the Newport Coast.

Madden, who with her husband, Jim, were among the major donors at the event, addressed the large crowd joining CHOC President and Chief Executive Kim Cripe sharing important statistics about the work of the hospital.

Rich and Erin Heim and their 11-year-old daughter, Sammy Heim, a CHOC children’s cancer patient now in remission, also told the audience about their own very personal experience with the hospital.

Foundation board member Chris Furman presented the inaugural Children’s Champion Award to radio station KIIS-FM (102.7) and Manny Guevara, known to radio listeners as Manny on the Streets.

The radio station as been an invaluable partner with CHOC raising both awareness and much-needed funding for the hospital.

Also spotted in the crowd were David and Julianna Pyott, Chris and Missy Callero, Steve and Tonie Oedekerk, and Tom and Margarita Solazzo.

Once again Donna Crean and the Crean family opened their Back Bay estate known as the Village Crean for the annual 2009 Super Bowl Extravaganza Feb. 1. As tradition demands, the In-N-Out hamburger truck was on property preparing and passing out the company’s famous hamburgers right alongside the culinary team of the popular Villa Nova Restaurant on Coast Highway in Newport Beach owned by Andy Crean, serving Villa Nova’s popular Italian fare.

Sabatino’s Lido Shipyard was on hand with its famous sausages, hot dogs came from Jerry’s Wood-Fired Dogs, Hooters did what Hooters does best and even Albertson’s Market out of Huntington Beach helped to provide the Super Bowl feast of all feasts.

It was all for a charity known as the Children’s Bureau, one of Donna Crean’s most cherished alliances. In existence for 105 years in Southern California, the Children’s Bureau, which started as an adoption agency, has become a major nonprofit leader in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The Orange County chapter of the Children’s Bureau, which was started with the funding support of Donna Crean years ago, serves some 7,000 children and their families each year.

The late Vesta Curry was known for her generous spirit, her intelligence, her love of culture and community and perhaps mostly for her collection of unbelievable millinery.

Vesta passed away last year and left a collection of some 200 artistic hats, many of them one-of-a-kind originals designed by the famous Jack McConnell.

On April 22 two local charitable organizations, the Pacific Symphony League and Founders Plus of the Orange County Performing Arts Center will join forces and throw a gala charitable luncheon at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel that will be a once-in-a-lifetime event called “Un Cabaret et des Chapeaux.”

Celebrity auctioneer Chuck Dreyer has been hired to auction off the Curry collection to the highest bidders. There will also be a silent auction. Broadway star Davis Gaines will entertain and all the proceeds will go to support the two sponsoring organizations.

Much-loved community organizers Jan Landstrom and Claire Burt will chair the party with tickets priced at $125. For more information and/or tickets please call Stephanie at the Orange County Performing Arts Center (714) 556-2122, ext. 4247.

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