Heroine Worship

Orange County visionaries who serve their communities and inspire leadership were recognized at the Women of Valor 2000 benefit Sunday at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

Sponsored by the Orange County chapter of the American Diabetes Assn., the dinner drew 350 guests and raised more than $100,000 for diabetes education and research.

Honored were Dr. America Bracho, executive director of Latino Health Access; Allayne Yackey, vice president of Abbott Resource Group Inc.; philanthropist Donna Crean; Lynette Carlucci, former executive director of the Orange County chapter of the March of Dimes; Joann Leatherby, an attorney who manages the Leatherby Foundation; and Allyson Pattillo, a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Martha Daniel was event chairwoman.

Breath of Life Award

Former NFL quarterback and sports announcer Boomer Esiason was honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Guild of Orange County at its 17th annual gala Saturday at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel.

Along with his wife, Cheryl--who was unable to attend the gala--Esiason received the Breath of Life Award for his philanthropy on behalf of cystic fibrosis research. The couple has a 9-year-old son with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.

Sue Hook was chairwoman of the event, which netted $488,000 for research and education. Jack and Melissa Norberg were the gala’s presenting sponsors.

Fighting Child Abuse

An elegant tent provided the backdrop for the Not Your Ordinary Black-Tie Event, a benefit sponsored by the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

Held Saturday at Irvine Spectrum Center, the gala for more than 500 guests featured entertainment by mimes, jugglers, psychics and magicians. Confetti cannons blasted the crowd with thousands of paper butterflies.

About $250,000 will go toward the foundation’s programs for the prevention of child abuse and toward efforts to promote independence among foster children as they move into adulthood.

Bill Wood--president of PacificCare Foundation--and his wife, Sharon McManus Wood, were event co-chairpersons.

World Premiere

Theater buffs packed South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa on Friday for the world premiere of “The Education of Randy Newman.”

Partially underwritten by SCR trustee Tim Weiss and his wife, Jean, the musical featured more than 40 songs by Newman, composer of pop hits such as “Short People” and “I Love L.A.”

“I loved it,” raved Elizabeth Stahr during the post-performance party in the theater courtyard. “And since not a word was spoken, I’m calling it an opera!” The show continues at SCR through July 2.

Mystery Dinner

The home of Mary and Phil Lyons of Harbor Island in Newport Beach was the setting Saturday for the Pacific Chorale’s second annual Murder at the Lighthouse benefit.

The event, An Evening to Die For, featured a sit-down dinner, dancing and the opportunity to solve a whodunit. Proceeds of about $90,000 will go toward the chorale’s operating costs and community outreach programs.