Briefly In Business

Laguna Realtors and Affiliates give grants

Tougher economic times for real estate did not prevent the Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates from holding its 14th annual “Laguna’s A Taste For Charity and Art Auction” on May 14. Hard-working volunteers and contributions from 11 local restaurants, 65 artists and galleries plus numerous merchants made the event a success.

From proceeds raised, the group was able to donate checks totaling $30,000 to: the Community Clinic, CSP Youth Shelter, Sally’s Fund, No Square Theater, First Thursday’s Art Walk, the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach and two scholarships to high school students.

A small reception to celebrate and disburse checks was Aug. 13 hosted by Bluebird Gallery, Studio 7 and DeRu’s Fine Art in the Bluebird Art Centre. Volunteers from the Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates Charitable Assistance Fund attended the reception along with check recipients from the charity groups.

Rotary sponsors back-to-school packs

The Rotary Club of Laguna Beach will be sponsoring 50 start-up backpacks for kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school teens for the fall.

Each pack will include items such as pencils, pens, glue, scissors, erasers, highlighters, rulers, notebooks and paper, depending on the recipients’ grade levels.

Club members will be stuffing the packs today, after the noon Rotary meeting at Aliso Creek Inn & Lodge. The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach will help distribute them to the students. For more information on Rotary, contact Rick Lang, president of the club, at langphoto@verizon.net.

McKnight honorary chairman of classic

Bob McKnight, president and chief executive of Quiksilver Inc., will serve as honorary chairman for the 15th annual Golf Classic and Chopper Drop for Education, benefiting the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

The event take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 25 “” including a helicopter golf ball drop with a grand prize of five nights in Paris “” at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach Golf Links, with its challenging holes and sweeping Pacific Ocean views.

McKnight, father of three, an avid surfer, snowboarder and golfer, appreciates the role the Ocean Institute plays in Orange County.

“What could be better than to instill in the future generation an appreciation of and respect for our sensitive ocean environment?” he asked.

Each amateur foursome is paired with a member of the golf team from a local high school, giving students the opportunity to interact with business leaders in the community.

Names of the winners will be placed on the perpetual Bob McKnight trophy.

The cost for an individual golfer is $1,000, which includes two tickets to the Chopper Drop for Education Cocktail Viewing Party, golfing, golf cart, tee package, lunch and on-course refreshments. The golfer also receives five chances to win a white ball prize. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

The tournament will be immediately followed by the Chopper Drop for Education, hosted by the Sand Dollar Guild. The Guild, a fundraising arm of the Ocean Institute, has raised more than $1 million since it was formed 20 years ago.

The Chopper Drop is a spectacular happening in which a helicopter hovers, dropping 5,000 golf balls, offering individuals a chance to win a myriad of prizes. Individuals may purchase a white golf ball for $20 or a colored golf ball for $100.

Five or more white golf balls may be purchased at a reduced rate of $15 per ball, with an invitation to the Chopper Drop Viewing Cocktail Party, which follows the tournament at 4 p.m.

For more information, to register for the tournament or to purchase Chopper Drop for Education tickets, call (949) 496.2274, ext. 412, e-mail Ellen Meese at emeese@ocean-institute.org or visit the Ocean Institute website at www.ocean-institute.org.