Fashion Show Benefit Raises Elegant Sum

The Fullerton chapter of the National Charity League drew more than 700 members and guests Thursday to its benefit luncheon and fashion show, “A Statement in Elegance.”

Event chairwoman Mary Anne Stevens and president Chris Creel greeted guests in the Anaheim Marriott lobby during the social hour.

The extensive collection of opportunity prizes on display at check-in time made it easier for committee members to sell tickets. The top prize was a one-week stay for two people on the island of Maui that included plane fare and car rental.

After lunch, there was a parade of fashions coordinated by Colleen Espinosa of Ellesse in Fashion Island.

And the league met its goal, raising $20,000.

Patronesses of the Fullerton National Charity League and their daughters contribute more than 12,000 hours annually to charitable services. These include Meals on Wheels, YWCA Child Development Center, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Muckenthaler Theatre-on-the-Green, Fullerton Library, For Kids Sake, Christmas Clearing Bureau, Womens Transitional Living Center and the Girls Club.

If the traffic was heavier than usual in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, it was probably the 300 members and guests of the South County Community Clinic on their way to the El Adobe restaurant for “Holiday Expressions.”

Gaye Birtcher, founder and president of the 2-year-old SCCC Auxiliary, served as chairman of the luncheon and fashion show, which raised $18,000 for the clinic. According to Karen Voss, guests had to be “turned away.”

Donna Schuller served as narrator, introducing fashions and jewelry from local stores: the Carved Horse, Arthur’s Furs, Anneliese Boutique for Children and Interchron Jewelers.

The list of opportunity prizes seemed endless. “The reason the merchants are so generous,” Birtcher said, “is that they know the money from the event goes directly to the clinic, right here in town.”

Dr. James Sperber, medical director, thanked everyone on behalf of the volunteer-staffed clinic, which is a nonprofit facility serving needy families that cannot afford health care.

A commemorative plaque was given to Dolores Frost and Dody Biebelberg for their dedication to SCCC. Both were credited with bringing awareness and financial support to the clinic “since day one”--in 1982--when the clinic first opened.

Later, Biebelberg, a registered nurse, recalled how she got involved: “I was on sabbatical (from nursing) at the time but still wanted to be involved. I went to the clinic and asked what they needed most. They said, ‘Money.’ Dolores and I started giving dinner-dances and home tours.

“Since Gaye has taken over, the auxiliary has really gotten off the ground,” she added.