COSTA MESA : Lions Club Parade, Fish Fry Successful

With more than 7,500 fish dinners sold and more that 65,000 guests, last weekend’s 49th annual Lions Club parade and fish fry has been declared a success.

Mike Scheafer, president of the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club, said the group is still counting, but he expects to have between $130,000 and $150,000 to distribute to charities.

Each year the club gives money to between 40 and 50 organizations, Scheafer said.

Much of the money is given to the UC Irvine Organ and Tissue Bank, which Scheafer said the Lions founded and continues to support.

Other groups including the Boys and Girls Club and the Costa Mesa Little League will apply for a grant from the Lions, he said.

Scheafer said this year’s fish fry raised far more money than the 1993 event, when the parade had to be canceled because of rain.

“We didn’t actually set any records, but we did far better than we did last year.” The record is $168,000, Scheafer said. “The economy was better, probably,” he said.

More than 300 groups marched Saturday in the parade, many paying homage to the 50th anniversary of D-day. Bands, drill teams, veterans’ organizations and local business groups marched down Harbor Boulevard. Entertainment and other events were held at the Lions Park, at Park Avenue near 18th Street.