Party-Goers Get Taste of Mediterranean

Belly dancers, master chefs and 500 party-goers converged at Newport Center Fashion Island on Saturday for a night of “Mediterranean Magic.”

Concern II-Orange County Chapter, an organization that raises money to fight children’s cancer, staged the evening of Mediterranean cuisine, music and dancing in the shopping center’s courtyard. The $50-per-person benefit was expected to raise about $25,000 for pediatric cancer research.

Mediterranean Delights

“Fashion Island already had the Mediterranean architecture. We just followed through with Greek and Italian food and the belly dancers,” said Ruth Frenkel, event co-chairwoman.

The gala was held in honor of Michael Adler, founder of the local chapter.

Adler joined Concern II in Los Angeles in 1984 and decided to organize an Orange County offshoot of the group in 1986. The chapter’s first benefit was held in his parents’ back yard in spring of 1987. Since then the group has grown from 20 to 200 members. Before being dragged onto the dance floor by a exuberant belly dancer, Adler said:

“I was attracted to this group because it was all volunteers, 98 cents of every dollar raised went to cancer research, and we got to spend time with the children. That got me hooked,” he said.

Concern II’s members are mostly young volunteers.

“We were going to make the age limit 18 to 35, but we dropped that real quick when we all hit our mid-30s,” Adler said.

Bargain Bash

Guests wandered from table to table sampling Mediterranean cuisine prepared by local restaurants. The buffet included a chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes from the Olive Garden, Latin-flavored antipasto with green chilies from Pasta Mesa, ham and pineapple pizza from Geezer’s Garlic Grill and broccoli ravioli with Parmesan cheese from Louise’s Trattoria.

Many considered the lavish fare and ongoing entertainment a bargain.

“This was the cheapest charity event this weekend,” said Tim Wilson, last year’s national president of Concern II who helped start the Orange County chapter.

Concern II was designed so young people can raise money through low-cost events, he said.

“Most younger people don’t have a lot of money but they want to get involved.”

In addition to fund-raising, members hold events with young cancer patients including Halloween parties, tours of Universal Studios and baseball games.

Among those attending were event co-chairwomen Laurie Abelove and Christine Tran, Michael Carr, Anne DeLorenzis, Tamar Frenkel, George Hefner, Stuart Katz, Lori Leaf, Cathy Markowitz, Lori Moltz, Larry Passo, Karen Raab, Perry Tessel and Steve and Eileen Yoelin.