Heroes of the Heart Help the Beat Go On

Two teenagers were among community volunteers receiving Heroes of the Heart awards at a benefit sponsored by the Padrinos, a support group of Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

The annual event, held Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, saluted outstanding community service and raised an estimated $100,000 for the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, according to event chairman Scott Mason of Corona del Mar. The benefit, which included dinner and a silent auction, drew 400 guests.

Guest speaker Dennis Prager, KABC radio host, praised the volunteers: “When you do good for strangers, that is a big deal,” he said.

In addition to four individuals recognized, employees of Beckman Instruments in Fullerton were recognized for having contributed nearly 14,000 volunteer hours in 1996.

Doug DeCinces

Corona del Mar

The former California Angel has served on the board of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation since 1988, raising more than $1 million. DeCinces chaired the foundation’s Blue Ribbon campaign, which distributed 500,000 ribbons in Orange County to symbolize the foundation’s fight against child abuse and neglect.

Charise Green

Laguna Beach

Receiving $500 along with a Schoolpower Marian Bergeson Community Service Grant last year, Charise, 16, founded the Laguna Beach High School Community Service Club. The club has staged a luncheon for senior citizens and purchased teddy bears for children in need. Green also volunteers on behalf of the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County.

Jon Wagner Holtz

Mission Viejo

Four years ago, Jon, 15, established a hotline and outreach group for kids whose parents have been cancer. The friendship network, called Komen Kids, today has chapters nationwide and has provided help for more than 1,000 children.

David Parker

Villa Park

The Santa Ana businessman organized last year’s Rod Carew Children’s Cancer Classic, which raised net proceeds of $187,000 for the Pediatric Cancer Research Laboratory at CHOC. He also chairs a CHOC committee to fund a blood bank, where umbilical cord blood is stored and used to boost the immune system of cancer patients.