Helping the Un-housed, a Bowl at a Time
By Donna Furey | LB Indy
Distinctive bowls by local and international artists with studios as far away as Germany and Saudi Arabia will go under the gavel during the sixth annual World Hunger Bowl, set for 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. Some of the bowls arrived on local shores in the luggage of Laguna Beach residents, who expatriated the art objects while on vacation and donated them for the silent auction.
Bowls figure prominently in the not-so-typical fundraiser at Seven Degrees, 891 Laguna Canyon Rd., organized for the sixth year by local homeless advocate Faye Chapman.
Ticket-holders will enjoy five soup tastes and dessert provided by eight local restaurants and will get to take home a one-of-kind bowl made by high school students from Laguna Beach, Irvine and Trabuco Hills.
Participants can use a mobile phone app to see videos of local people without homes tell their stories, triggered by scanning a displayed image.
Emcee Jason Feddy will present entertainers Ben Benavente and magician Scott Tokar.
Proceeds will benefit a new non-profit, Changing Souls, founded by Chapman, who serves on the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee. Chapman is also a photographer and author of “Faces of the Shadows, Life on the Street,” a photographic essay documenting the homeless in Southern California. She founded the World Hunger Bowl in 2008, an annual fundraising event held that last year raised $20,000.
Proceeds from the World Hunger Bowl will be used to provide services for the homeless such as covering prescription co-pays, providing assistance in obtaining personal documents and providing food for the hungry, Chapman said. This year she hopes to raise $45,000.
To preview the bowls up for auction, visit Las Laguna Gallery, 577 S. Coast Highway, or Mark Timothy Gallery, 350 N. Coast Highway. To be a sponsor, donate a bowl or purchase $45 per person ticket, visit WorldHungerBowl.org or call Faye Chapman at 949-280-2885.
Gala Underwrites 500 Bikes
Nearly 200 guests attended the second Wheels 4 Life fundraiser last month at The Ranch in Laguna Beach and raised $54,000, enough to buy almost 500 bikes. The foundation started by locals Hans and Carmen Rey supplies bicycles to people in developing countries.
Supporters included gear makers GT, Crankbrothers and Oakley and mountain biking competitors Troy Lee, Brian Lopes and Richie Schley.
The event included screening of “Riding Out Poverty,” with a theme song by local Nick Hernandez, who also entertained along with Chevy Metal, the band headed led by Foo Fighters’ drummer and local Taylor Hawkins.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that some people that had never heard of Wheels 4 Life went home feeling inspired to support us in the future.” said Carmen Rey.
Girls Kick In for Kids’ Club
More than 250 women in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach attended the sixth annual Girls Night Out at the home of Holly Wilson and raised $100,000 in support of the club’s out-of-school programs.
Chaired by club parent Molly Zurflueh, the event set a new record in enthusiasm and revenue, said Pam Estes, the club’s executive director.
Lugano Diamonds, one of several sponsors, held an opportunity drawing for a three-strand pearl necklace and a $2,500 gift certificate.
Assistance League’s Friend Raiser Is Big Success
The Assistance League of Laguna Beach held its third annual Friend Raiser at Madison Square and Garden Cafe on Oct. 5.
Attendees enjoyed a fashion show with 34 models representing 16 of volunteer organizations wearing ensembles from the Assistance League’s Thrift Shop chosen by fashion show coordinator, Molly Levitta.
Proceeds support the league’s Early Intervention Program for developmentally delayed infants and their families and other charities.
