Raising Funds in Fine Fashion for a New Chapman Chapel

Members of the Fashionables--a support group of Chapman University in Orange that raises funds for its proposed All-Faith’s Chapel--gathered at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach on Saturday for their annual holiday brunch.

Honoring 12 years of tradition, guests joined carolers and Santa Claus as they swept down the red carpet under the bistro’s trademark canopy.

After a cocktail reception, guests were seated in the lavishly decorated restaurant--every available surface seemed to be banked with pine and poinsettias--for a gourmet luncheon featuring poached salmon and creme bru^lee.

Chapman University President James Doti told the hundreds of guests that ground would be broken next year for the 140-seat chapel designed by architect E. Fay Jones of Arkansas. “The chapel will be located right in the center of the campus,” Doti said. “It’s traditional, a little bit modern. Jones is a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright.”

The Fashionables has donated nearly “a half a million dollars” to the project, Doti said.