R S V P / ORANGE COUNTY : Hotel, Guests Glitter on Behalf of Clinic : More than $65,000 is raised for health care for needy families. The ‘Christmas Fantasy’ fashion show and luncheon drew 650 people.

An elegant holiday setting, a glitzy fashion show and a Christmas theme--it’s a winning formula that has worked for the South County Community Clinic Auxiliary for 10 years.

Tuesday, the auxiliary’s 10th anniversary luncheon and fashion show drew a sellout crowd of 650 to the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point. The $65-per-person luncheon included a fashion show featuring the latest looks from stores at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.

Net proceeds were expected to exceed $65,000 and will go to the San Juan Capistrano-based clinic, which provides health care to needy families of south Orange County.

Wings of Desire

“We always seem to come back to angels and fairies,” said Thyra Decker, a committee member, explaining this year’s theme, “A Christmas Fantasy.”

Organizers traditionally hold their luncheon in early December, when the hotel is decked out in lights and ribbons for the holidays. Guests, most of them women dressed in their holiday best, first crowded into the courtyard to see the holiday vignettes created by auxiliary members.

They entered a drawing to see who would walk home with one of the six vignettes, each stocked with all kinds of decorations and gifts and valued at around $3,500. One scene, “Culinary Corner,” offered assorted kitchen wares such as a bread-making machine, coffee maker, knife set and wine rack. “It’s a Small World” overflowed with toys.

The “Christmas Fantasy” vignette featured a traditional holiday scene with a decorated tree surrounded by gifts, including a Victorian doll, crystal candlesticks and a floral pillow.

“All of the presents are wrapped. You don’t have to do anything,” said Gaye Birtcher, founder of the auxiliary who worked on the vignette. “You just need to put people’s names on the tags and you’re done--that’s my Christmas fantasy.”

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies

Anne Crawford, event chairwoman, said the luncheon was a sellout (more than 100 people had to be turned away) because “people remember the show and the vignettes.”

Next the crowd moved into the ballroom, where tables were illuminated by tiny glowing Christmas trees topped with Tinkerbell ornaments. There, guests were served chicken breast with pistachio lemon crust and candied ginger carrot cake.

After lunch the lights dimmed, and all eyes turned to the stage, where a gigantic gift box opened to reveal sugar plum fairies dressed in white who danced down the runway.

They were followed by models sporting holiday and cruise wear from Calvin Klein, Barneys New York, Emporio Armani and a half-dozen other South Coast Plaza retailers.

Models were occasionally joined by men in tuxedos bearing red roses for women in the audience.

Since its inception, the auxiliary has raised more than $1.2 million for the clinic. The clinic recently added a Mobile Medical Van, custom-designed to provide easy access to health care for South County residents.

Others in the crowd were: Linda Berkshire, auxiliary president; Zara Cerni and Beth Carney, event co-chairwomen; Margot Hughes-Lopez, executive director of the clinic; Monica Bergquist, Eileen Dombrow, Lois McFarlan, Cynthia Pagano, Anita Houston, Barbara Naud, Juin Foresman, Melba Roelen, Ruth Rothwell, Electa Anderson, Diane Shaber, Mame Mertes, Eunice Parker, Cindy Boragno, Billur Wallerich, Thomas and Carolyn Bent, Ninetta Herbert and Diane Robinson.