The Crowd:

2009 came to a close with 400 guests converging on the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in support of Girls Incorporated of Orange County. Girls Inc., a nonprofit with the mission of inspiring all young women to be “strong, smart and bold,” raised an impressive $322,000 in support of its year-round programs.

The event welcomed keynote speaker Karen Katz, Neiman Marcus president and chief executive. Local celebrity chef Jamie Gwen served as mistress of ceremonies for the party, which also celebrated 55 years of the Girls Inc. presence in Orange County.

“The funds raised will impact the lives of more than 4,600 girls that we serve annually through our main center in Costa Mesa, as well as through our 52 outreach sites in greater Orange County,” said Lucy Santana-Ornelas, executive director of Girls Inc. Orange County.

Dedicated Girls Inc. supporters in the crowd included party Chairwomen Carol Lee, Larane Rodnick, Eve Kornyei and Gianna Drake-Kerrison. Also spotted in the crowd were Madeline Zuckerman, Marta Bhathal and Laura Baratta, Girls Inc. guild president.

The incredible Jazz in January is set for Jan. 29 and 30 at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

It is the eighth annual jazz event benefiting the Ocean Institute and featuring song writer and guitarist Jonathan Butler. Once again Tim McMahon and Jens von Gierke will chair the two-day reception, dinner and show.

The Friday night performance, limited to 270 guests, begins with a wine reception followed by the concert, with tickets priced at $95 and $125. The major dinner Saturday night will seat 200 guests and include a cocktail reception, four-course dinner and performance, with ticket prices beginning at $425 per person.

Jazz in January is always a sell-out with funds supporting programs offered each year by the institute in which 115,000 Orange County students and public visitors participate.

Major table sponsorships are also still available, call Ellen Meese at (949) 496-2274, ext. 412, or go to emeese@ocean-institute.org for more information.

Also coming up at month’s end, the Laguna Art Museum is slated to offer Auction 100. It will feature 100 works of art from 100 premiere California artists in a live and silent auction format scheduled for Feb. 6 to 7. The auction preview begins Jan. 30 and runs through Feb. 5 at the museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.

The art may also be viewed at lagunaartmuseum.org/ Events/auction2010.html. The party will unfold Feb. 6 at Las Brisas Restaurant, featuring cocktails, music and the art auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Unsold works will be available for purchase the following day.

Museum Director Bolton Colburn predicts this fundraiser could also be a wonderful opportunity for collectors to buy fine art at recession adjusted prices.

Tickets to the auction are $125 for museum members and $150 for nonmembers. Call Dawn Minegar at (949) 494-8971, ext. 203, to buy tickets or for more information.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.