The Pacific Symphony held its anticipated Opening Night celebration, “Rachmaninoff—From Russia With Love.” The event, which took place Sept. 26, kicked off the orchestra’s 35th anniversary season with a grand reception, dinner and entertainment and marked the first concert of the 2013-14 Hal and Jeannette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series: “Conrad Tao Plays Rach 3.”
The sold-out, black-tie event netted $165,000, which will support the symphony’s artistic and educational programs.
It opened with an outdoor reception at the Center Club in Costa Mesa, with entertainment by members of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance and the University of California, Irvine.
Guests, after a dinner and reception, attended the first symphony of the season, featuring pianist Conrad Tao. South Coast Plaza was the presenting sponsor for opening night, and Omega at Tourbillon Boutique was the retail partner.
The William and Sue Gross Family Foundation honored the longtime service of Al Roberts and Ken Jillson, founding board members of the AIDS Services Foundation, Orange County, by donating $50,000 to the organization they helped start 28 years ago. The gift is designated in support of SOMOS, a foundation program that focuses on HIV and AIDS prevention among young Hispanic men. The William and Sue Gross Family Foundation gift will allow the ASF’s SOMOS group to continue their outreach to at-risk, young, Hispanic men, promoting a strong message of prevention and early detection, said Philip Yaeger, the foundation’s executive director and chief executive.
Guests stepped back in time at the Laura’s House Annual Gala, “Step into the Roaring 20s,” on Sept. 14 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa. The event, which attracted 250 people dressed in costumes inspired by “The Great Gatsby,” raised more than $250,000 to support Laura’s House Emergency Shelter Program.
Laura’s House honored Wells Fargo for its contributions to the organization. Western National Group was the event’s title sponsor.
Some other sponsors included Verizon Wireless; Frome Foundation; Michelman & Robinson LLP; The Thompson Foundation; Haskell & White LLP; Gerson Bakar & Associates; Applied Medical; Alliance Resource Group; Knockout Productions; and Rutan & Tucker LLP.
Laura’s House aims to change social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe space to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.
The “Blue Jeans & Fast Cars” fundraising event on Sept. 21 raised $165,000 to help support Working Wardrobes. The money goes toward programs and services that help men, women, young adults and retired military personnel with job training and placement; career development; assessment and support; and professional wardrobe services.
The event was held at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, where more than 250 guests viewed the $30 million, rarely seen exotic and classic car collection. Money raised included a $25,000 donation by Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation. Other corporate partner donations came from Pimco, Cox Communications, RETS Associates, Hyundai, GSGI, DGWB, Applied Medical, People G2 and Summit General Insurance, among others.
The Minnie Walk, a companion event to the CHOC Walk fundraiser for patients of Children’s Hospital of Orange County who can’t walk, was held on Sept. 12, with 200 children going on their own special parade behind Disney star Minnie Mouse through the second floor of the hospital’s new Bill Holmes Tower. Sponsors of the event and the larger annual CHOC Walk fundraiser included Disneyland Resort, Mother’s Market, Chick-fil-A, Weir Canyon Honda and Acura. This year, the CHOC Walk, “A Walk in the Park,” is scheduled for Oct. 13.
