In the ‘Tropics,’ a Toast for Cancer Research

The Village Crean in Santa Ana Heights became a tropical island Saturday for the Young Professionals Against Cancer’s Hawaiian-themed party, “Toast on the Coast III.”

More than 300 guests, many sporting Hawaiian shirts and fresh leis, attended the evening of Polynesian entertainment, food and drink. The $35-per-person luau was expected to raise about $10,000 for the American Cancer Society/Orange County Unit.

Doing the Hula

“We’re going to dance tonight,” said Catherine Rondema, vice president in charge of special events for the group, who skipped the traditional Hawaiian muumuu for a more contemporary outfit: purple felt hat, leggings and a floral baby doll dress.

“I always like to stand out a little bit,” she said.

The high-energy group of mostly 25- to 40-year-olds danced under the stars to live Polynesian music.

“We’re trying to get them involved in fund-raising at an early age,” Rondema said.

Matthew Taylor, a visiting member of the British Parliament, seemed taken with the informal atmosphere.

“Back home, most fund-raisers are formal balls with black ties and ball gowns,” he said. “If you turned up in shorts, you might raise some eyebrows.”

Tropical Sensations

Guests could sample food from a table piled high with fruits and cheeses, or visit the grill where chefs prepared teriyaki chicken and beef kebabs.

Additional buffet tables were loaded with crab mousse, Brie with strawberries and almonds, tortellini in marinara sauce, spicy chicken wings and chocolate chip cookies.

Young Philanthropists

Young Professionals Against Cancer was formed in 1990 by a group of Orange County professionals who had lost friends or relatives to cancer.

“This party is to raise money for the Cancer Society, to build awareness about cancer and to provide a pipeline of younger volunteers,” said Steve Kwong, the professionals’ founding president.

“The Cancer Society realizes there’s a gap. Most volunteers are older and richer. But there was a whole pool of young people with a lot of energy who weren’t doing anything.”

Among those attending were co-chairs Catherine Girard and Laurie Hefner; committee members Michelle Coleman, Patrick Lester, David Reyno, David Talarico and Kristi Young; Lenny Moussafir and Gene Samborsky.