Super Bowl benefit

Luis Pena

Hundreds gathered at the Newport Dunes Resort not only to watch the

the Super Bowl but to support Olive Crest Homes and Services for

Abused Children.

Katie Heimark, chairwoman of the Super Bowl Extravaganza for the

Lighthouse Guild, which is the fundraising arm of Olive Crest, said

that they were expecting more than 600 people to attend the event

this year.

Last year, the guild raised $120,000 for Olive Crest with this

event alone.

The Los Angeles Laker Girls made their way down to Newport not

only to football fans before the games start but because they enjoy

supporting great organizations.

Screenwriter David McKenna and his wife, Marcy, got the idea for

the Super Bowl Extravaganza from a Super Bowl event that they

attended in Las Vegas. He said that he wanted to have an event that

wasn’t an ordinary black tie affair.

“We’re here to support the Lighthouse Guild, helping children find

their way,” Laker Girl Kristin Jacobs said.

The fans stood up as singer Beyonce Knowles sang the national

anthem on giant screens and applauded when she finished.

Gabriel Ortiz, a member of the Servants for Christ Motorcycle

Ministry, volunteered his time as security for the VIP area. He said

that his organization helps to keep the cost of the event down by

having its members volunteer their time to the event.

“I’d like to see the Patriots do it,” said Brian Konrath of Costa

Mesa. He normally roots for the Chicago Bears, he said.

Carol Agay of Costa Mesa said she came to the event to support the

children and to root for the Patriots, even though she had no ties to

the team.

“I think it’s great,” Agay said. “Its an opportunity to celebrate

our freedom and to be part of the festivities.”

Jared Heid came all the way from Glendora to watch the New England

Patriots and the Carolina Panthers play.

“Its great,” said Ray Aoderete of San Clemente. “It’s a good

show-up. Its not overcrowded, good service, looking forward to see

Sugar Ray play.”

No California teams were playing, but that didn’t stop die-hard

football fans from getting into the game. Andy Demetri of Newport

Beach is a huge football who had money riding on the Patriots. The

Panthers wouldn’t have a chance of winning the championship, Demetri

said, because they play too much defense, and if the Patriots got

ahead by two or three touchdowns, the Patriots would come out on top.

Deann Mix of Newport Beach said she thought that the event was

“fabulous.” She didn’t care who would win, she said, because she

really came to support the charity rather than the Patriots or the

Panthers.

San Francisco 49er fan Heather Gulino from Long Beach wanted to

see the Panthers win because the Patriots have had enough

opportunities at the championship and they always choke.

“This is an amazing event the turn out is spectacular,” Gulino

said. “They didn’t miss a beat. Everything is on point, from the

decorations to the food to the people. It’s a perfect afternoon.”

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at luis.pena@latimes.com.