‘Canvas of Hope’ for People With Parkinson’s
“I need to take a little nip,” teased Stanley Scher on Sunday afternoon as he watched hundreds of people stream into his 8,000-square-foot mansion in Nellie Gail Ranch. “I’m overwhelmed at the turnout.”
Three thousand invitations went out for “Canvas of Hope,” the first benefit for the Orange County Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Assn. “People told us we could expect about a 1% return on our invitations,” said Aggi Oschin, event co-chairwoman with Renee Scher. “But at last count, there were 750 people here. I think an angel shone on us today.”
Committee members had expected to make about $7,000, said Scher, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago. But net proceeds were expected to top the $25,000 mark. “I’m more than amazed,” he said, tears welling up. “We’ll give the money to the national association in New York. They decide where the money goes.”
After guests swept into the French-style digs, they had a heap of options to consider: cruise the appetizer buffets donated by C’est Si Bon, Garden Bistro, Ottimo and Prego; peruse the art gallery set up on the tennis court; bid on the marble sculptures on display in the pool-area garden; inspect the fashion boutique in the library; watch a style show by Mi Place, or tour the opulently decorated estate in Laguna Hills.
“We used to live in Palos Verdes,” Renee Scher said as she took a breather in her light and airy kitchen. (“My favorite room in the house,” she noted.) “And then one night, Stanley woke me up and said ‘We’re moving, honey!’ ” I said, ‘OK,’ and went back to sleep.
“Two weeks later, I took him up on it, and we found this lovely place. We love it here. Orange County is wonderful. We’re never moving.”
Enjoying the festivities with his parents was Kris Scher, 13. “My parents have done a great job today--really put themselves out,” he said, smiling. “And they haven’t worked me too hard.”
One of the event’s highlights was the appearance of premed student Masoud Karkehabadi, 12, a soon-to-be graduate of UC Irvine. (Introducing the boy-genius--his I.Q. is 200-plus--Stanley Scher said: “He’s getting his degree this week. He is already doing research on Parkinson’s disease.”)
Said Karkehabadi: “I want to thank everyone who came here to devote their time and effort to this honorable cause. . . . Most of all, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Scher and their son, Kris, for allowing us to use this beautiful house with a beautiful view on a day like this.
“I will make sure that I devote as much time as possible to discover the cause of Parkinson’s disease.”
Among guests was Dr. Janet Chance, medical director of the information referral center of the American Parkinson Disease Assn. at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. Parkinson’s is not an “interesting disease,” she explained. “So you don’t hear too much about it. It is a chronic disease that goes on and on and on. You don’t die from it; you kind of dwindle.
“It’s our chapter’s goal to get the word out. There are 8,000 people with Parkinson’s disease in Orange County. And we can help them with new drugs, physical therapy and respite care for care-givers.”
For information, call (714) 574-6338.
