The Crowd: Culinary stars come together for two worthy nonprofits
Two nonprofits, though not well-known to many in Orange County, took a giant leap forward recently as the beneficiaries of the annual fundraising effort of Table for 10, Orange County.
Vocational Visions and the Teen Project, led by Joan McKinney and Lauri Burns, respectively, were overwhelmed by the generosity of many top culinary talents in the community who volunteered their expertise, staffs, food, décor and more to entertain donors coming together at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point.
Imagine a giant hotel ballroom decorated with dozens of individual setups created especially for guests of a particular chef and restaurant. Fabulous and individual table settings, florals ranging from simple and low to outrageous and towering, unique seating and mini-kitchens — all arranged for chefs to create, prepare and serve multi-course gourmet dinners to Table for 10 guests — highlighted the event.
The list of participating chefs is long. All deserve great praise.
Host chefs overseeing the cocktail reception were the respected duo Pascal Olhats and Anne Manassero. The overall host chefs were Salvatore Guiliano and Greg Heneghan, representing the Laguna Cliffs Marriott.
A sampling of the culinary stars participating were Rachel Haggstrom of Balboa Bay Resort, Tony Trujillo of Cucina Enoteca, Brian Doherty of Fairmont Newport Beach, Ben Martinek of The Loft restaurant at Laguna Beach’s Montage resort, Davis Martin of the Pacific Club and Colin McCain of Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille.
Also front and center for Table for 10 were David Coleman from Michael’s on Naples, Ugo Allesina of Prego Ristorante and Jean Pierre-Dubray and Micah Severeid of the Coliseum Pool & Grill from Newport Coast’s Resort at Pelican Hill.
The recent Sunday evening agenda kicked off with late-afternoon cocktails followed by a “table viewing” at 6 p.m.
Master of ceremonies Dawn Marie welcomed the huge crowd as guests found their tables and the procession of chefs began. Dinner service commenced at 7 p.m. with three or more courses alongside wine pairings as McKinney and Burns took the stage to tell the crowd about their work at Vocational Visions and the Teen Project.
McKinney shared, “Vocational Visions is a nonprofit agency providing vocational life skills to more than 500 adults with intellectual development and other disabilities.”
On the topic of the Teen Project, Burns told the audience about the growing epidemic of teen homelessness.
“These teens did not choose to be homeless,” she said. “They’ve been made homeless.”
She continued, “Cast into the streets not by negligent parents, but by a few senseless laws, the Teen Project picks up where the law falls short.”
A wide cross-section of community support came out to make a difference. Donors included Tom and Jennifer Blanchfield, Victoria Collins, Noel and Kathy Hamilton, Jerry Harrington, Susan Samueli, Lindsey Ueberroth, John and Nancy Vaughan, Matt Dubow and David Cosgrove, to name a few.
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The Guilds Catch a wave
The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts came together April 1 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach to “catch a wave of creativity.”
The annual gathering and fundraiser was chaired by Marilyn McCorkle, who greeted the large crowd with enthusiasm. Support came from center donors, including Deborah and Larry Bridges, Sally and Randy Crockett, Toni and Center Board Chairman John Ginger, Betty and S.L. Huang, Tracy and Roger Kirwan, and Sandy Segerstrom Daniels.
Presenting sponsor of the California beach-themed party — featuring the music of the Surf City Allstars Beach Boys tribute band — was the elegant Newport jewelry salon Lugano Diamonds, led by Moti and Idit Ferder. Organizers and volunteers set up a casual, action-packed night featuring food stations around the Island ballroom. Everything from gourmet hot dogs to rib eye sliders to shrimp and lobster rolls tempted the crowd that was sharing cocktails, conversation and a swing on the surf city dance floor.
Also supporting the event were Sandy and Gerald Bass, Mary and Richard Cramer, Gail and James Daniels, Susan and Tim Strader, Carol and Kent Wilken, Nancy and Rick Muth, and Pat Poss.
Honored guest of the night Carol Hunter was recognized with the 2016 Guilds Inspiration Award.
Hunter was accompanied by her husband, Phil Moon, among the many other loyal donors supporting the event.
Making the wave reach shore with ease were volunteers including Sandy Bass and Marjorie Gorum, representing the Segerstrom center board as co-chairs supporting the party.
Upward of $150,000 was raised for center programs.
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Beauty: Inside and Out
The Newport Beach chapter of National Charity League, Juniors came together March 19 at the Balboa Bay Resort for the chapter’s 2016 Spring Fashion Fling.
Everything was coming up pink as some 400 mothers, daughters and guests arrived for the Saturday fashion affair presented by Bloomingdale’s, Fashion Island. NCL Juniors President Jennifer Middlemas joined fellow board members Staci Francois, Wendy Blackband, Kristin Sheward, Brooke Willems, Jennifer Dauderman and Lisa Gazzaniga in welcoming the arriving crush of very well-dressed moms and daughters celebrating spring in vibrant color.
Spotted in the crowd were Juniors mothers Sally Bartz, Rani Braun, Heidi Eadie, Christy Flanagan, Ali Jones, Bonnie Lee, Yalda Miller, Kim Riker, Erica Thomas and Jenny Young. Also front and center were Audrey Bryant, Angela Card, Justine Cuneo, Jennifer Dinapoli and Amy Ivey, to name a few.
Charities supported by the generosity of the Juniors include High Hopes Head Injury Program, Orange Coast College’s Harry and Grace Steele Children’s Center and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
Chef Rachel Haggstrom of the Balboa Bay Resort prepared a special Caesar salad for the mothers and burger sliders for the young ladies. Major underwriters were Renee and Kalei Gregg, Terri Johnson, Brooke and Bryce Williams, the Pham family, Terry Causey, the Francois family, the Goffman family, the Mahoney family and so many more.
Adorable sixth-grade girls participating in the Juniors program were Katie Barnes, Bridget Taylor Beall, Ella Baskurt, Tenley Boring, Ellie Bush, Brooke Dauderman, Camille Deckey, Christi Elaine Francois, Isabella Rose Goffman, Kalei-Belle Gregg, Elyse Johnson, Lena Pham, Emma Middlemas, Kate Middlemas and Alexa Raack.
B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
