Column: The Crowd: Crystal Cove Conservancy hosts oceanfront gala to benefit state park

The magnificent white tent erected on a coastal bluff above the Pacific at Crystal Cove beckoned more than 400 guests to a spectacular October dinner benefiting Crystal Cove Conservancy.

Hosted and underwritten by the tony Resort at Pelican Hill, the crowd arrived at dusk on a recent Saturday evening as Pelican Hill staff served cocktails and hors d’oeuvres al fresco. A silent auction drew bidders as the large assemblage of Crystal Cove support mingled while the day’s final sun set into the ocean below.

First, and most importantly,the Coastal Commission blessing for the restoration of the final 17 vintage Crystal Cove beach cottages is in place. The next goal is to raise an additional $35 million to complete the project.

This will ensure completion of the full renovation project, protecting the early California history being preserved on the beachfront site which was saved from demolition and development into a modern luxury resort.

Second, the annual dinner event, which was the 15th such gathering, raised an impressive net amount of $467,497 in support of the conservancy.

Alix Hobbs, president and CEO of the Conservancy, was clearly pleased.

“Our environmental science and marine biology educational programs grew to 4,500 students this year and thanks to the success of the 2017 soiree guests’ generous financial support, the number of students will grow even higher in 2018,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs emphasized that funds raised will not only support preservation and restoration efforts, but will also significantly impact environmental education outreach.

“We intend to have our educational goals create a sustainable future for Crystal Cove State Park,” she said.

To this end, Crystal Cove Conservancy has become a recognized civic model of community action meeting government to achieve public goals.

As the cocktail reception ended, Laura Davick, Crystal Cove Conservancy’s passionate founder, former child resident of Crystal Cove and vice president of the Conservancy, welcomed the large crowd into the tent for an exceptional feast of filet and lobster.

The crowd, including donors Keith and Mara Murray, Doug and Eva La Bon, Bonnie Gregory and Shirley Quackenbush, Susan Tate, Michael and Tricia Berns, Paula and Jeff Cole, Jose Collazo, Gareth and Diana Evans and Jackson Lewis, shared dinner and conversation in the tent, which had been opened on the ocean side to allow the sea air to waft into the pop-up dining room.

Also on hand to lend financial support were Mitchell and Joni Ravenna Sussman with good pals John and Anne Wortmann, Teddie Ray, Michael Ray, Fred and Wendy Salter, Laura Tarbox, Harley and Lori Bassman, Christine Carr and Michelle and Glenn Verdult.

To learn more about the work of Crystal Cove Conservancy visit crystalcove.org.

Center Club hosts 11th annual ‘Charity Classic’

Organizers called the affair, “Hops and Vines,” welcoming a large crowd of more than 350 local citizens coming together to support a variety of O.C. needs with special emphasis placed on assisting Working Wardrobes, ALS Therapy Development Institute and Employee Partner Care Foundation.

Guests shared cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the renovated Costa Mesa club, ultimately raising more than $40,000 for charity.

Richard Ward, chairman of the Charity Classic shared the spotlight with former Super Bowl quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams Vince Ferragamo and special guest Ric Franzi who served as emcee for the fundraiser.

Also supporting the evening were Bart Zandbergen, Isabel and Paul Evan Greenwald and David Jahr.

World-class theatre to debut at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

A night of “Art, Excellence + Friendship” will premiere Oct. 30 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

The performance will feature the internationally acclaimed Mariinksy Theatre Orchestra under the direction of maestro Valery Gergiev.

The event is being sponsored by South Coast Plaza as part of its ongoing 50th anniversary yearlong celebration.

At the helm is Elizabeth Segerstrom, co-managing partner at South Coast Plaza.

The concert is the latest event presented by the Elizabeth & Henry Segerstrom Select Series.

A gala dinner event will follow the .concert supported by a roster of O.C. philanthropists and celebrity guests including Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Philip Glass, Christopher Forbes, actor Ralph Fiennes, fashionista Mary McFadden, actress Jane Seymour, artist and architect Cesar Pelli and L.A.-based architect Frank Gehry.

B.W. COOK is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.