For Todos, a Seasonal, Sparkling Soiree

With its halls decked out for Christmas, the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point served as a sparkling Christmas fantasy land for the 15th Annual Todos Seasonal Soiree.

About 150 people in their holiday finery turned out Wednesday for the black-tie gala staged by Todos, a support group for St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. The $125-per-person dinner and silent auction was expected to raise about $18,000 for the hospital’s Heart Center.

White Christmas

For guests, the party began as soon as they drove up to the Ritz-Carlton and saw trees, garland and wreaths strung with more than 30,000 white mini-lights.

“I think it’s just like a fantasy land,” said Diane Anderson, event chairwoman.

Old-fashioned Christmas trees with gold trimmings stood in the hotel salon where guests bid on baskets of goodies. Among the offerings: a walk-on part on the TV series “Quantum Leap” and a fully stocked aquarium that included goldfish crackers in lieu of real fish.

Instead of traditional Christmas music and carolers, guests were entertained by a blues band and a magician.

“I thought it was time to do something different, so we’re having a blues Christmas,” said Susan Spiritus, assistant chairwoman of the event, who attended with her husband, Dr. Eugene Spiritus, chief of staff at St. Joseph.

Tables were decorated with Della Robbia-style wreaths. There, guests enjoyed a gourmet feast of ragout of asparagus and forest mushrooms in puff pastry, grilled swordfish and filet mignon, potatoes julienne and a lemon meringue torte with fresh vanilla sauce and toasted pecans.

Heartfelt Cause

Todos earmarked proceeds for St. Joseph’s Late Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic, which serves young adults who have physical, emotional or psychological problems resulting from heart disease they suffered as children.

“It’s only recently that people with congenital heart disease have survived, thanks to state-of-the-art heart surgery. They certainly never lived to adulthood,” said Kate Reeves, president of Todos. “We’re entering a brand new field.”

Todos gets its name from the Spanish word meaning everyone.

“Years ago, when we first came together to support the hospital, we asked ourselves, ‘Who do you want to be a part of this group?’ The answer was everyone,” Anderson said.

Those attending included Karl Andrews, Ty and Wanda Cobb, Eleanor Graham, Bill and Bernice Hird, George Holmes, Pat Kelly, Charlie and Milly Kovac, Melvyn and Sandy Liebergman, Bill and Jerrine Murphy, Robyn Ravgiala, and David and Virginia Reed.