The Crowd:

There is perhaps no better gift than the gift of hope.

An organization known as Furnishing Hope brought the community together for a good old fashioned country Western barbecue raising funds to literally furnish hope.

Founded in 2003 this group provides furniture for shelters. They have furnished 33 homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Orange County (every single home since 2004).

For Orangewood, they have decorated 14 apartments. In addition, Furnishing Hope has donated three furnished residences for the Red Cross in Orange County, as well as working with another dozen local nonprofits donating furnishings and decorative fixtures.

Attending the party were Steve and Kim Coyne, Rick and Kendra Craig, Bill Hank, Tyler and Pam Terry and Patrick and Victoria Sweeney. Also spotted in the crowd were Sandra De Laura, featured speaker Katia Morales and her husband, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Morales, Robyn Phillips, Beth Phillips, Marilyn Delao, Joellyn Finn, Monica and Rich Cappetta, and event Chairwoman Timaree Zauner.

It’s all about creating safe, livable and hopeful environments for people attempting to make a comeback in life.

The barbecue attracted a large crowd at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, with tickets priced from $75 all the way up to $7,500 for major sponsor opportunities.

For more information, go to www.FurnishingHope.org or call (949) 644-9106.

The incredible All American Boys Chorus of Costa Mesa held their fall “Round-Up,” also taking a western theme, to raise needed funds in support of one of the county’s honored traditions.

The event unfolded Oct. 24 at the Mile Square Golf Course Clubhouse in Fountain Valley, attracting a full house of current, past and continued support for the chorus.

The $60 ticket provided a Western prime rib dinner followed by a concert delivered by the boys in their signature red jackets.

The holiday season is the most crucial fundraising time of the year for the program.

The chorus will be performing at venues throughout the county up until Christmas.

To find out how you can support the program, call (714) 708-1670.

A classy October reception, “Meet the Artists,” rallied patrons of the Pacific Art Foundation for a little food and wine and plenty of artistic inspiration.

The annual gathering at the Pacific Club, Newport Beach, included a showcasing of work by accomplished painters, including Glenn Ness, Siddharth Parasnis, Joe Brubaker, Suhas Bhujbal, Duke Windsor, Scott Yeskel, Marianne Kolb and Sally Storch.

The party was organized in part by Sue Greenwood Fine Art with works by the attending artists auctioned to patrons.

Greenwood donated 25% of the proceeds to the foundation, which in turn sponsors student art scholarships as well as funding significant art purchases for the Pacific Club Collection.

Supporting the foundation are Chairman Geoff Le Plastrier, Vivian Browne, John Meindl, Leslie Mains Thompson, and event Chairwomen Heather Klein and Judy Strauss.

Also on hand for the affair and patronizing the exhibit were Pat Neisser, Aimee Porter, Joy Slosan, Robin Kalota, Patricia Mickey, Jim Muzzy, Gerald Buck, Patricia Houston and Fran Wittenberg Cashen.

It’s time for Christmas Company.

The Junior League of Orange County will present their major holiday event from Nov. 12 to 15 at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, Costa Mesa.

Ninety vendors offering holiday treats, gifts and decorations will set up shop with the Junior League sponsoring a variety of special events surrounding the holiday sale.

For all the details, go to www.jlocc.org or call (949) 261-0823.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.