The Crowd:

Friends of Childhelp gathered recently at the invitation of Bill and Lil KnightBill and Lil Knight. An elegant cocktail supper unfolded in their Pelican Crest estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Some 100 dedicated men and women were honored for their support of the Childhelp organization, which is preparing for its annual fashion luncheon set for Monday at the Island Hotel, Newport Beach. The fashion show will be generously underwritten and produced by South Coast Plaza. Diana Miner, president of the Orange County Chapter of Childhelp, joined fashion show chairs, including Pam Pharris and Nancy Whitlock, in welcoming the crowd to the Knight residence in anticipation of next weeks’ fashion luncheon.

This season Childhelp will honor former pro football player Rich Saul and his wife, Eileen Saulm, for their commitment of three decades helping children served by Childhelp. The Sauls will receive “The Inspirational Award” for their dedication. In addition Dr. Lois Lee will be honored with the Children’s Friend Award. Lee is the president of Children of the Night, which rescues American children from street prostitution.

In honor of Rich Saul, fellow athletes and friends, including Vince Ferragamo, Jack Youngblood, Phil Olsen, Dennis Harrah and Robert Harrell are volunteering to sell opportunity tickets at the luncheon to raise funds for Childhelp.

Spotted in the upbeat crowd at the Knight affair were respected real estate executive Brad Hinman with his fiancé Gina Van Ocker, Katherine Meredith, Sandra Hageman, Jim and Patti Edwards, Dale San Filippo, Cathy Unvert, and Kristen and David Janes, daughter of the hosts and her husband. For last minute information and tickets to the Childhelp event, e-mail O.C. Childhelp Chapter publicity chairwoman Jacquie Casey at jlrcasey@aol.com.

The Lido Isle Women’s Charitable Foundation presented a check for $15,000 to the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute. The donation was accepted by Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia, cardiologist at Hoag Hospital. Itchhaporia was joined by Greg Gissendanner, Katherine Steele and Jen Ballard-Hernandez, all members of the Hoag team. They came to the Lido Isle Clubhouse to accept the monetary gift and to thank the local men and women who raised the funds as a result of the sixth annual Home for the Holidays tour last December on the island.

The Home Tour has grown into a major Lido Isle event. Last season it attracted more than 300 guests touring three outstanding residences, including the Ayres, Debaun, and Joseph homes on the island. Major supporters included Haute Cakes, providing the luncheon, with invitations and posters donated by the Paper House.

As a result of the community support, the Lido Isle women were able to increase their local charitable donation from the previous year by more than 30%. Since its inception in 2001, the charitable foundation has granted in excess of $150,000 to local charity. It is one of the only neighborhood associations in costal Orange County that operates in such a fashion.

Ninety-seven percent of net profits each year go directly to the charity that the foundation supports, founder Diana Miner told the crowd.

Major participants include event chairwoman Lynda Gruver, Ida Middlesworth, Gloria Parker, Jan Brown, Donna Shockley, Debbie Benedict, and Lois Tingler.

Also supporting the foundation are Chris Overstreet, Mary Manno, Pam Nestande, Carol Poe, Susan Longerot, Karen Littlefair, Linda Colton and Linda Giannini.

Today would have been Debbie Simon’s 54th birthday. Simon died Sept. 10 at her waterfront estate on Harbor Island under circumstances that tragically ended a bright spirit in the Newport Mesa community. Her death was ruled a suicide by local authorities. Simon was a glamorous participant in many aspects of the social and charitable circles on the Orange Coast. She particularly was fond of supporting the Orange County Performing Arts Center and all aspects of help for her cherished Hoag Hospital.

Her death left friends and family members asking the painful question of “How could this happen?” Unfortunately, answers are difficult to grasp and an understanding of the private challenges and despair in another’s life are indeed evanescent.

Debbie left behind three children, Lauren, David and Scott, as well as parents, siblings and dear friends in the community who will remember her today with kindness and wish her peace.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.