The Crowd:

It is one of the most important social and charitable events of the year. The Circle 1000 Founders Brunch, celebrating advances against cancer in association with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, welcomed journalist Cokie Roberts Cokie Roberts as the guest speaker of the 22nd annual event in Orange County held at The Hilton Hotel, Costa Mesa.

Roberts joined a formidable list of national names including Tom Brokaw, Nancy Reagan, Peter Ueberroth, Linda Ellerbee, Harry Belafonte, Geraldine Ferraro, among other distinguished notables who have addressed the Circle 1000 gathering.

What sets this event apart is both its spirit of high-minded purpose and its pursuit of intellectual vision via the outstanding speakers that bring ideas to the Newport-Mesa table.

While the underlying goal is to raise money to advance research aimed at cancer prevention and cure, this event is more of an annual life monitor that measures the pulse and the passion of the community on a number of different levels.

The speakers often touch on issues that transcend cancer per se, dealing with marriage and family matters, politics, social values, religious beliefs, personal goals and so much more.

Roberts, respected political news commentator for ABC News serves on the President’s Commission for Service and Civic Participation.

The Library of Congress has named her a “living legend” and she has also been named one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcast television by an organization known as The American Women in Radio and Television.

Born into a highly motivated and successful East Coast family, (both of her parents served America in high political circles in Congress and her mother was also the United States Ambassador to the Vatican), Roberts’ pedigree is not about social status but rather about clear-and-present solid-American values centering around family, friends and civic service.

Roberts shared heartwarming stories of growing up in an old family house with a fantastic vegetable garden that continues today to be a source of pride for her family.

In her address to the local audience, she shared the personal pain surrounding the death of her sister Barbara 19 years ago from cancer, and in revealing her own loss connected with an audience filled with both cancer survivors as well as citizens presently fighting many forms of the disease.

Roberts told the crowd that “advocacy works.”

She said, “It all works, runs for cancer, walks for cancer, pink ribbons for cancer, every bit of advocacy makes a difference.” Roberts shared some good news. “California is the only state in the nation where the rate of cancer is on the decline for women (and men). The fight is far from over, but we are making progress.”

Circle 1000 was founded some 22 years ago by Newport Beach cancer activist and survivor Sandy Sewell, who was unable to attend the event this year due to a bout with the flu.

Sewell’s passion was noted by event chair Karen Linden, who shared with the overflow crowd that this year’s fundraising effort would total $1,060,000, bringing the grand total raised by Circle 1000 in the fight against cancer to $10.5 million.

Linden acknowledged the 33 founding women who have made a demonstrable difference in this community participating in the growth of Hoag Hospital and its cancer wing.

Among the dedicated are Arden Flamson, Hyla Bertea, Stephanie Grody, Jude Steele, Ginny Ueberroth, Lin Auer, Jacquelyn Dillman and Margaret Larkin.

Also among the founders committee are Janet Curci, Frances Applegate, Nora Jorgenson Johnson, Leslie Moore, Kathy Schoenbaum, Gini Robbins and Jodi Greenbaum to name only a few.

In a tradition that has become part and parcel of this event, members of the audience who are cancer survivors are asked to stand in a show of solidarity. A moment of silence in respect for those fighting the disease and those lost to it is followed by rousing applause representing an unbridled optimism meant to convey that hope is eternal.

Spotted in the crowd were Sally Afable, Susan Anderson, cancer specialist Dr. Neil Barth and Kerry Barth, Corinne Black, Vicki and Bill Booth, Mary Buckingham, P.J. Burke, Jody and Scott Burnham, and Elaine and Tykye Camaras.

Also front and center for Circle 1000 were Linda Colton, Don Crevier, Jean DeVries, Billie Flamson, Katie Flamson, Dale and Joanne Johnston, Roger Kirwan, Karen Littlefair, Ann Raney, and Tara and Michael Shapiro.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.