Lively Evening Supports Human Options

The dress code called for business attire, and the program promised speeches from two graduates of a program for abused women. Yet last week’s benefit for Human Options: Alternatives for Abused Women and Their Children was no somber affair.

To keep the mood light, organizers of the “Entertaining People IV” dinner brought in musical, comedy and magic acts for a lively evening at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach. About 300 guests paid $125 each to attend, which, along with a live auction for a trip to Maui, movie passes and other goodies, raised $45,000 for the women’s shelter in Orange County.

That’s Entertainment

“This event is strictly to entertain people who support Human Options,” said Pam Gilmour, who served as event co-chairwoman with Pam Horowitz.

The gala was much like a night out at a dinner theater. Guests dined by candlelight at tables covered in Victorian tapestry clothes and decorated with fresh flowers. They were served a gourmet feast that included grilled vegetables and baby lettuce with sherry wine vinaigrette, chicken medallions with rosemary and lime jus and a milk chocolate dome with chocolate sauce for dessert.

While they ate, they were entertained by the Palm Springs Yacht Club and Take Stage from the Allard Academy, which staged a musical revue of Broadway show tunes, while illusionist David Avadon performed magic tricks.

Moving Performance

“The highlight of this evening is hearing the program graduates tell their stories,” Horowitz said.

For the graduates, speaking about their experience before hundreds was proof of the confidence they’d gained since entering Human Options. A woman identified as Ronda went to the shelter with her children after her husband threatened her with a gun. Another graduate, Heather, sought out the shelter when she could no longer take her husband’s physical and verbal abuse.

“I was terrified to go to the shelter. I thought it would be an asylum,” Heather said. “It turned out to be the most nurturing kind of place. They believed in me before I did.”

Safe Haven

Since 1982 Human Options has provided emergency shelter at an undisclosed location as well as career counseling and other services for victims of domestic abuse.

“Most of the women who come to us have nowhere to go. Most are unskilled. They can’t go out and pay for an apartment and child care,” Horowitz said. “They just need a safe place to regroup.”

Victims can stay at the shelter for about a month. Some then enroll in Human Options’ new Second Step program, which allows them to stay in a low-cost apartment house for a year before moving into a place of their own.

“Everyone here has a different reason for being involved in this program,” said Anita Meister-Boyd, board president. “As a mother I feel that if we can have an impact, maybe that will make my daughter’s world safer.”

Other guests were Tom and Betty Kemp, Ken and Meredith Khachigian and Ed and Pat McFarland, honorary chairmen; Nancy Bushnell, Larry Boyd, Gail Brooks, Rod Castelda, Vivian Clecak, John Ferguson, Nancy Meyer, Cindy Munson, Carolyn Noonan and Tom and Mary Catherine Payne.