Domestic-violence Survivor Featured at Fundraiser
Victor Rivas Rivers will share his remarkable story as a survivor of domestic violence Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Newport Beach’s Balboa Bay Club, during a fundraiser for Human Options.
The organization works to halt domestic violence and last year provided services and prevention programs to over 20,000 individuals.
Rivers, the best-selling author of “A Private Family Matter” and a spokesman for the National Network to End Domestic Violence, uses his own story of surviving a home where abuse took place on the level of torture to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Registration at 1221 W. Coast Highway begins at 11 a.m. and the program starts at noon. Individual tickets are $150 and underwriting opportunities are available. Contact MaryKate Gerevas at 949-737-5242, ext. 318 for tickets or further information.
Orphan Supporters Find a Home
Corazon de Vida will host Heart of Gold, a benefit for children of a Baja California orphanage with music performances by John Huessenstamm and David Heath, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Mozambique restaurant.
The evening includes a tequila tasting at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and a silent. Tickets are $95.
Founder Hilda Pacheco-Taylor will describe how Irvine-based Corazon supports orphaned and abandoned children at 15 Baja orphanages that care for more than 750 children.
Visit http://oct19mozam.eventbrite.com for tickets or www.corazondevida.org.
Shelter Backers Get-together Over Homelessness
Friendship Shelter’s traditional “Art of Getting Home” on Nov. 4 moves to Newport Beach’s Balboa Bay Club to respond to a growing interest in the event.
“We had outgrown our venue and were turning people away,” said executive director Dawn Price. “By expanding to a larger site and changing things up, we’re able to build on the event’s success and give our supporters a new experience.”
Kathleen Abel and Jill Edwards, who have chaired the event for several years, are being honored for their work, as are longtime supporters Barbara and Greg MacGillivray and graduate Lindsay Iverson.
Tickets may also be purchased at www.friendshipshelter.org or by calling (949) 494-6928. Sponsorships are available.
Resource Center Wraps Up Flood Relief
The Laguna Resource Center distributed the last of $220,000 in community donations earmarked for relief to victims of last December’s flood, including a $100,000 donation made by an individual Laguna resident, the board chairman announced Monday.
“We are enormously grateful to Ann Quilter, who oversaw the flood relief effort, managing volunteers and meeting with each victim to assess needs,” said board chairman Andy Siegenfeld. “We were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of Tony Ciabattoni, who contributed $100,000 to the relief fund. We thank Mission Hospital Laguna Beach and No Square Theater, whose productions raised nearly $30,000 to assist local artists. And to the many other residents and organizations who donated time and money, please accept our heartfelt thanks.”
The Resource Center’s executive director Donna Valenti and board member Faye Chapman devoted much of the last nine months to the disaster relief effort. Both expressed their deepest gratitude to the residents of Laguna Beach for reaching out to those in need.
For info: contact Andy Siegenfeld at (949) 887-3332 or lagunareliefandresourcecenter.com
Center’s Catch Supports Mammal Rescues
More than $77,000 was raised at the Sept. 25 Marine Mammal Cabaret fundraiser at Aliso Creek Inn, the most successful in the organization’s 40-year history, said development director Melissa Sciacca.
The sold-out event featured many residents, and paid tribute to the McBeth Foundation for their long time support of the organization. Funds raised at the event will go towards PMMC’s animal care and education operations.
Floral arrangements and starfish donated by Laguna Nursery and glassblower John Barber accented the tables. The event showcased 70 live auction items and artwork by Sandra Jones Campbell, Ken Auster, Scott Moore, Tom Swimm and more. Live piano entertainment was provided by Roxanna Ward, who kept the crowd howling with laughter and singing along.
Gala Underwrites Alliance’s Budget
The glamour of old Hollywood was re-created at Crystal Cove Alliance’s ninth annual gala at the Pelican Hill Resort where 425 guests celebrated the rich history of filmmaking along Crystal Cove’s shoreline.
The Sept. 26 event netted more than $200,000 and accounts for 60 to 70 percent of CCA’s annual budget for restoration, education and conservation.
Among the many guests were honorary chairs Madeline and James Irvine Swinden, California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman, Beachcomber Café founder Doug Cavanaugh, Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman and Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle.
Raising Funds for Ocean Conservation
Ocean conservation group Oceana welcomed Academy Award nominees and husband and wife Josh Brolin and Diane Lane at the fourth annual SeaChange party in Laguna Beach last weekend.
About 400 guests attended the event to raise over $900,000 dollars for Oceana.
The event, hosted by actress Angela Kinsey and actor Ted Danson, featured passionate speeches from Brolin and Lane about the need to protect the world’s oceans. Other celebrities in attendance included: Ted Danson, Aimee Teegarden, Angela Kinsey, Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Q’orianka Kilcher, Oscar Nunez and Austin Stowell.
Brolin, a long time surfer, was followed at the podium by his wife, who spoke of a personal connection to the ocean fostered on the East Coast.
For three consecutive years, Oceana received top rankings by Charity Navigator for sound financial management.
