BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Kathie Lee Gifford honored by foundationThe Festival of Children Foundation will honor actress Kathie Lee Gifford with the first Founders Award at 7:15 tonight at South Coast Plaza’s Garden Terrace.

The foundation, started by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, is honoring Gifford for her work with children’s charities at the opening night gala of the Festival of Children.

The nonprofit organization helps support over 100 children’s charities and other agencies by providing resources to strengthen the cause. The programs they help include finding homes for foster children, taking kids on wilderness treks and student tutoring.

Gifford donates her time to the Assn. to Benefit Children, the Cody Foundation and the Cody House, which finds homes for children with severe medical problems or disabilities.

OCC enrollment up from last yearStudent enrollment at Orange Coast College increased 1.5% this fall compared with a year ago, campus spokesman Jim Carnett said.

On Monday, the first day of class, 20,853 students were enrolled on the campus, besting last year’s figure of 20,552. Many courses are still open and the college is accepting fall applications both online and on campus.

This summer, OCC underwent a sweeping renovation of several of its classroom buildings as part of the $370-million Measure C construction bond. The social science, home economics, music and literature buildings are among those that received upgrades.

Golf tournament for mentoring programMesa Verde Country Club is set to host Orange County on Track’s 2006 Kids on Track Golf Tournament on Sept. 18.

The tournament is open to the public and costs $250 per person. All proceeds will benefit the organization’s mentoring programs for families and children in need.

The program has offered over 100,000 hours of mentoring services during the last 10 years to children.

Registration, putting contest and the driving range will open at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. There will be a reception, silent auction and an awards dinner with entertainment and prizes following the tourney.

For more information, go to www.ocontrack.org or call (714) 531-7144.