Charities prefer blonds

B.W. COOK

The glam gals were back on the beat as the social season of ’05 got

underway.

First up was a reception welcoming new members and longtime

devotees of the Sophisticates, a support wing of the Assessment

Treatment Services Center. Annamarie and Jim McGee literally rolled

out the red carpet at their palatial Newport Coast Riviera estate as

guests arrived strolling down the formal limestone path, with

fountains splashing, to a cocktail reception that was chic and

sublime.

Brown locks may be the Hollywood hair look this year, but blond is

still the mark of the O.C. And it was blond, blond and more blond as

the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, while the Sophisticates toasted

margaritas and sampled a fabulous Mexican buffet hosted by the McGee

family.

It was the 22nd annual reception, chaired by Linda Lamitie and

Melissa Theriot. Sophisticates president Karen Elliott was on hand to

welcome arriving guests along with two dedicated

hostess-with-the-mostess gals Debbie Newmeyer and Eve Kornyei. In the

crowd were Richard and Kathryn Agnew, Dino and Leslie Cancellieri,

Terry and Carole Cates, Brian and Denice Mock, Ron and Carol

Pontremoli, Grace and Pat Thelen, Jim and Michelle Watts and Gary and

Cheryl Shepherd.

The treatment center’s mission, “Arrest the problem, not the

child”, is a program focused on working with children and families to

direct them toward productive behavior through counseling and family

therapy.

The parade of glamour continued over the coastal hills in Shady

Canyon as the statuesque blond Robin McMonigle, wearing a sheer black

blouse and slacks, joined her dapper real estate mogul husband, John

McMonigle of Strada Properties, in opening their sensuous Tuscan

villa nestled in the barren hills of Shady Canyon for The Harvesters.

It was an underwriters’ cocktail affair for the generous Newport-Mesa

citizens contributing significant sums to support the big Harvesters

fashion luncheon unfolding today at the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport

Beach.

The McMonigle gathering, which flowed from inside the rustic villa

decorated by Robin McMonigle and Melinda Paxtad to an outside terrace

with a hypnotic view of distant canyons, celebrated the “Hermes

lifestyle.” The French purveyor of luxury goods had tasteful

displays, presented by Alison Cottrell, placed all through the

gardens like statuary. John and Robin were joined by Harvesters

chairwoman Carmela Phillips and a board of super-dedicated advisors

including Ann Moorhead, Jeri McKenna, Teddie Ray and Harvesters

founders Jill Johnson-Tucker and Jennifer Van Bergh. Again, we’re

talking big-time blonds, except for Teddie Ray. But she does live in

Laguna.

Also in the crowd were Lido’s Kristina Grace (blond), Sabine

Wohrle (blond), Alison Olmstead (blond) and Susan Bridgford (blond).

Of course, there was also ravishing red-head Jennifer Segerstrom with

husband Anton Segerstrom and a few drop-dead brunets including Debbie

Sclafani-Millar, a Lido Isle to Shady Canyon expatriate.

Kristina Grace reports that the Harvesters raised more than

$300,000 in underwriting support this season. Funds will support

food-distribution programs orchestrated through Second Harvest Food

Bank of Orange County. Major Harvester support came from Mark and

Julia Post, Diane and Charlie Cotton, The William Close family, Kurt

and Christine Olson, Cindy and Steve Fry and Jeri and Danny McKenna.

Also generously underwriting were Paul and Michelle Janavas, David

and Melissa Arnold, Heather and Jim Madden, Jerry and Sherri Worth

Nourse and Jessica and Sanford Edward.

Most of these women are blond, which means, I suppose, that blonds

do have perhaps too much fun and go to too many parties but also

donate great sums to charity. I’m sure brunets will respond

accordingly.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.