Benefits and Benefactors

Garden Party Helps Nepalese Children

All are invited to a garden party at a private north Laguna home on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. to support Chhahari, (“shelter” in Nepalese), a home for 22 at-risk and orphaned children founded in 2007 by Laguna Beach resident Christine Casey.

When Casey trekked Nepal in 2004, she encountered desperate street urchins in terrible physical condition and vowed to take action. She founded the home in Kathmandu for a handful of children who attend school, learn music and art, and live with a married caregiver couple whose two young sons are part of the mix. The organization’s goal is to help these children and to change poverty-stricken Nepal by helping to create a new generation with an educated middle class.

Guests will be treated to wood-fired pizzas baked in a mobile wood-burning brick oven. Beer, wine, handmade ginger and plum lemonade, organic salad, and dessert is included.

Jason Winters, owner of Urban Pie, donated the use of his mobile oven and special 30-year-old starter dough. In addition, a lucky guest will go home with a one-week stay at a chateau in a medieval French village, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain. Other silent auction items include a jewelry, original art, gift certificates for hot dining spots, and more.

Admission is $60 per person. Request an e-invitation by emailing board member Barbara McMurray at  [email protected]. RSVPs and donations can be made online at www.chhahari.org

Easing Hunger a Bowl at a Time

For the fifth straight year, the city’s Housing & Human Services Committee will battle hunger by organizing a city-wide food drive and the World Hunger Bowl fundraiser as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Waste Management will provide curbside pickup for donations on three designated days and deliver contribution to the Laguna Food Pantry. Residents will receive notification of the pickup dates and may leave non-perishable food items curbside for pickup on their normal trash collection day.

The Laguna Food Pantry provides free groceries to low-income households from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. “The number of families at risk of going to bed hungry and not being able to afford rent has grown at a frightening pace,” said Andy Siegenfeld, Chairman of the Pantry.

The World Hunger Bowl fundraiser Wednesday, Nov. 6, features hand-crafted art bowls, a soup-tasting dinner and entertainment. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Mozambique restaurant. Tickets are $45 per person. Supporters include Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer, K’ya, La Sirena Grill, Sundried Tomato, Sapphire, and ReMarks.

The art bowls will be on display at the Laguna Gallery of Contemporary Art during October.

Proceeds will benefit homeless individuals of Laguna Beach and the Collaborative Courts Foundation’s Homeless Outreach Program.  Visit www.WorldHungerBowl.org to purchase tickets on-line or call Volunteer Chair, Faye Chapman at (949) 280-2885.

Building Wells for Clean Water

Laguna Beach-based Wells of Life holds a fundraiser gala and auction at the Mission Viejo Country Club on Saturday, Oct. 12, where guests will enjoy a seated dinner, no host cocktails, entertainment as well as a live auction.

The organization founded in 2008 aims to provide East African communities with access to clean and safe drinking water.

The 6 p.m. event at 26200 Country Club Dr. includes dinner by Chef Bob Petersen, a special performance by Irish dancers from the Aniar Academy and a live auction.

Tickets are $150.00 and can be purchased by going on line at www.WellsOfLife.org or by calling 855.935.5763

Big Winner Still Unknown in Ocean Institute Raffle

Philip Hoang, of Santa Ana, won a dream getaway vacation or $10,000 cash as the top winner among 68 selected in Ocean Institute’s September drawing of the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle.

The grand prize winner will be selected Nov. 9, said  Dan Stetson, Ocean Institute president.  The final day to buy tickets will be Oct. 24, unless the 20,000 available sell out beforehand. The raffle benefits Dana Point’s Ocean Institute and Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

Assistance League Gains Friends at Fundraiser

Jon Madison opened his Madison Square and Garden Cafe to the Assistance League, and true to his word, made the second annual Friend Raiser an even bigger success.

Guests were treated to live music, a Thrift Shop fashion show with commentary by Steve Ellner and fashions modeled by Laguna Beach “celebrities,” along with martinis, appetizers and desserts prepared in the Garden Cafe.

Madison helped the Assistance League make over 300 friends, each of whom donated a treasure to be sold in the Thrift Shop or made a monetary donation. Donations included art, jewelry, designer clothing, collectibles, and over $1,000. The donated items will be priced and on sale in the Thrift Shop on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Assistance League President Judy Soulakis expressed her appreciation to Madison and commended event coordinators Ann Hyde, Molly Levitta, Bren Adnaniforghani, and Margo Ganson.