Pyramid Scheme Collapse Catches O.C. Groups : Philanthropy: Five local investors were listed in bankruptcy papers filed by New Era this week.

At least five Orange County philanthropists, foundations and charitable organizations were among more than 100 caught up in a multimillion-dollar pyramid scheme that collapsed this week in Philadelphia.

A spokesman for Peter M. Ochs confirmed that the Ochs family foundation, First Fruit, lost money in the scheme but said it was “very substantially less than $1 million,” rather than the $3.2 million listed in bankruptcy documents filed Monday by the Foundation of New Era Philanthropy.

Rob Martin, executive director of First Fruit, said Ochs, founder of Fieldstone Co., Southern California’s largest privately owned home-building company, was traveling when he became aware of the collapse of New Era, headed by John G. Bennett Jr.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said that New Era was a classic Ponzi scheme, in which later investors are paid unrealistic returns from funds of earlier ones. Estimates of the losses top $500 million, authorities said.

Most of the organizations that lost money with New Era were religious and arts groups, and colleges. Investors were guaranteed that they would double their money in six months.

Ochs’ reaction, Martin said, was one of “sadness and surprise.”

“I think we’re all surprised,” Martin said, and concerned with “what this thing is going to do to all the folks who were counting on it.”

Orange County organizations and individuals listed in the bankruptcy filing as being owed unspecified amounts of money were artist and former National Football League player Dave Chapple of Irvine; Don Modglin of the Modglin Family Foundation of Huntington Beach, and Hospital Chaplains Ministry of America, also of Huntington Beach.

Representatives of the other organizations either would not comment or could not be reached.

Also listed among the creditors was Pat Boone of Golden Orange Broadcasting, which operates KDOC-TV in Anaheim.

Boone was out of town Friday. A spokeswoman at his office said she doubted he had invested with the foundation.

“As far as I know Mr. Boone has never given New Era any money,” Maureen Marta said.