Community Clinic Honors Donors
The Laguna Beach Community Clinic honored over 40 major donors and volunteers during a brunch held at The Cliff Restaurant on Sunday, Nov. 3.
“Thanks to our supporters we continue to care for more than 5,000 patients each year, providing about 15,000 patient visits,” said Dr. Tom Bent, the clinic’s medical director and chief executive. Incredible donor response to matching grants will pave the way to a nutrition center scheduled to open early next year and to the expansion of teen-specific services and upgrades to the teen-friendly website.
The 2013 Volunteer of the Year Carolyn Bent, wife of Dr. Tom Bent, is a member of several committees, serves as the clinic’s graphic designer and photographer, and is founder of the popular event “Handbags for Health,” which supports the clinic’s Women’s Day Outreach. The 2013 Legacy Donor was Dr. Barbara Hamkalo, a board member and community activist whose legacy gift to the Laguna Beach Community Clinic Endowment Fund furthers the clinic’s goal of becoming self funded. Past board member Laura Tarbox, a generous donor for many years and the clinic’s self-proclaimed “ambassador to the community,” was awarded 2013 Benefactor of the Year.
Assistance League Book Drive
Assistance League of Laguna Beach recently held a book drive in conjunction with Make a Difference Day on Oct. 26. Members collected nearly 500 books, boxed them up and will donate them to Homefront America to be distributed to children and parents at Camp Pendleton. Some books will even find their way to Afghanistan for military members to read to their children via Skype.
Hike for Cancer Cure at TOW
Over 120 participants from Orange, San Diego and LA counties joined the second annual “Hike for the Cure” held last Saturday, Nov. 9, at Top of the World. Brett and Kristen Turner coordinated with the Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation to organize the fundraiser to support ovarian cancer research. All proceeds from the successful event will directly fund research to help find a cure for ovarian cancer.
Million Dollar Home Raffle Winner
Former California resident, 27-year-old Nicholas Elias, now stationed in Florida, is the Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. Elias will have the opportunity to choose between $1 million cash or a Laguna Beach home. When reached by phone, Mr. Elias said, “This is the best Veterans Day celebration ever!”
Congratulating the raffle winners, Ocean Institute president Dan Stetson added that, “In addition to those who took home prizes, our real winners are the thousands of Southland school children who participate in our ocean science and maritime history programs. The funds raised in the raffle play a crucial role in allowing us to continue to offer these programs.”
Other top raffle winners included Joshua Hetland of Chino Hills, who won a dream vacation or $10,000 cash, and Brett Spirlin of Newport Beach, who won artwork by Wyland or $5,000 cash. Winners in the multi-ticket drawing included Chris Stark of Irvine, who won a Lexus RX450h lease or $15,000 cash and Denise Howell of Newport Beach, who won a dream vacation or $10,000 cash. Refer-your-Friends winners included Florence Sears and Stephanie
Masterson of Orange, who won a Lexus IS250 lease or $7,000 cash.
The Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle benefits the Ocean Institute and Irvine Public Schools Foundation among other eligible non-profits. For a complete list of raffle winners, visit www.ocean-institute.org.
