The Crowd:

Henry T. Nicholas IIIenry T. Nicholas III, co-founder of Broadcom and Orange County philanthropist supervising the Nicholas Foundation, contributed a sizable donation recently to the American Liver Foundation that was a personal tribute to a friend. Jeff Reuter, owner of the local restaurant and pub known as 3-Thirty-3 was the recipient of a liver transplant that saved his life. Reuter, along with another friend Ray Jacobi, the new managing partner of the Ritz Restaurant, Fashion Island, joined a large contingent of local supporters, who with Nicholas, contributed more than $50,000 to the American Liver Foundation through a recent walk-a-thon in Newport Beach that created both awareness and support for those suffering from liver disease.

The 2009 Newport Beach walk represented a local contingent that is only a small part of the some 30 million people in the United States who suffer from some form of liver disease. “One of the missions of our foundation is to support important medical research, and I can’t think of a more deserving cause,” Nicholas said.

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club was the setting for an early summer event on behalf of the Queen of Hearts Foundation. Joining organization founder Kim Beaudette were some 150 local guests who came for dinner, dancing and an auction to raise funds in support of research to find a cure for ovarian cancer. By the end of the evening $30,000 was raised, which set a milestone for the cause putting them over the $1-million mark of funds raised since the inception of the organization in 2000. The funds are earmarked for the UC Irvine-Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

On hand for the nautical-themed evening was Krish Tewari, a doctor from the Chao Center, who addressed the crowd about progress being made in various cancer research programs, including ovarian cancer. One of Tewari’s cancer patients, Elizabeth Courtney, shared her emotional and personal struggle with cancer as well as the hope embodied in her recovery.

This important evening was chaired by Sandi Hanscom. Queen of Hearts was originally founded by three sisters; Lori Hunter, Kim Beaudette and Cathy Greinke, who lost their mother Ann Dobbie to ovarian cancer only five months after diagnosis. Their goal is to one day have an ovarian cancer screening that will be routine, allowing the disease to be fully and completely treatable. For information on the work of Queen of Hearts go to www.qohfoundation.org.

Court Appointed Special Advocates threw a little Caribbean-inspired casino evening on the bay last week to raise funds to protect the rights of abused children involved in Orange County court cases. Organizers called the evening “Betting by the Bay.” The party was at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar and raised about $25,000 for Court Appointed Special Advocates programs. To learn more about the organization, call (714) 619-5155.

The fashionable ladies and gentlemen of Orange County will be heading south to the St. Regis Hotel this evening for Nordstrom’s 2009 Fall Designer Preview Fashion Extravaganza. The St. Regis ballroom will be transformed into a fashion runway suitable for a show in New York, Paris or Milan. In addition to the program, a major shopping opportunity will exist as guests sample hors d’oeuvres and sip sunset cocktails. Tickets to tonight’s party are $150 with all proceeds benefiting the Orange County Museum of Art. The evening is being chaired by two of Newport’s most fashionable women Carol Lee (not the faux jewelry line, but the person) and the gorgeous Gianna Kerrison. Some of the designers set to be previewed include Stella McCartney, Versace, Michael Kors, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan and Blumarine. Seating is limited, but there may be a few last-minute tickets available. Call (949) 759-1122, ext.240.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.