It Takes a Village to Raise $1.3 Million
Over 1,500 of the Shea Center’s sponsors and friends were present to support its mission to improve the lives of people with disabilities through therapeutic horse-related programs at the 38th annual BBQ and Family Faire in San Juan Capistrano on Sept. 24.
Laguna Beach is a source of deep support for the center. Currently, 23 Laguna riders are clients of The Shea Center and there are 80 Laguna Beach volunteers, who regularly give their time and talent, including mother-daughter members of the National Charity League.
The evening’s featured rider, Navy veteran Kevin Whitney, demonstrated his progress following a parachuting accident that left him with a spinal injury and paralyzed legs.
Long-time Shea Center partners, Jenny and Bill Klein, issued a matching challenge grant for the first $150,000 raised in the Fosheim Rider Support Fund.
Montage Laguna Beach, chef Azmin Ghahreman of Sapphire Laguna restaurant, chef Lindsay Smith-Rosales of Nirvana Grille, business partners Laurie Alter and Mark Christy of Tuvalu and Steve Nordoff of Riverain Vineyards are supporters.
So are 230 Forest, BJ’s Restaurant, California Interior Plants, Ganal Lumber, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Playhouse, Romeo Fine Portraiture, Artist Skip Roma, The Inn at Laguna Beach, Laguna Festival of the Arts, Laguna Canyon Winery, Surf & Sand Resort & Spa, and Watermarc.
Center Supporters Set Another Record
More than 300 guests contributed $258,000 to support Laguna’s seal and sea lion hospital at a recent fundraiser at The Ranch resort.
All proceeds are spent on patients, Pacific Marine Mammal Center development director Daniela Moore said in a statement.
Guests bid on auction items and enjoyed dinner and wine to the accompaniment of steel drum calypso music and dancers on stilts.
