KOCE Honors ‘Best, Bravest’

In its first-ever presentation of Aristeia Awards, PBS-affiliate KOCE honored community leaders in three categories at a benefit dinner last week at the Four Seasons hotel in Newport Beach.

Jo Caines received an award named in her honor--The Jo Caines Expanding Minds Award. Caines, 71, of Orange, is director of community relations and outreach at the station and her extensive community involvement includes sitting on eight boards of directors and membership in more than 30 other organizations. She has been a director at the station for nearly 21 years and helped start Friends of KOCE.

Bob Brown, president of Toshiba America, received the Aristeia for Education Award for his company’s support of educational programming. Toshiba sponsors the station’s science and math broadcasts available to county classrooms and a Teacher of the Year program.

The Eleanor and Ralph Leatherby family was presented the Aristeia for Service Award for its philanthropy in support of the station and numerous arts, education and health care organizations. Russ, their son, is a chairman of the KOCE-TV Foundation board.

Ed Arnold and Judie Argyros served as emcees of the event, which raised about $35,000. Peggy Goldwater Clay and Sam Goldstein were event co-chairs.

Among the 260 guests were Arnold Beckman, Jack and Belle Lindquist, Peter and Mary Muth, John and Trish O’Donnell, Tom and Marilyn Nielsen, Gaddi Vasquez, Bobby McDonald, and Ronnie and Byron Alumbaugh.

The Aristeia award was designed by Newport Beach sculptor Essie Pinsker. It is named for a Greek word signifying the best and the bravest; the shape of the award is meant to symbolize a spirit of excellence and leadership.