The jet set: British billionaire Richard Branson flew in last week to join venture partner and OC businessman Chris Welsh at Newport Beach Yacht Club for the unveiling of their one-seater submarine. Afterward, Branson’s friend and local socialite Mindy Stearns says there was a snap decision to make: “Should we take our jet or Richard’s jet?” They opted for Sir Richard’s Galactic Gal for a hop to Palmdale. Mindy, hubbie Glenn and Branson’s team were met in the desert by OC philanthropist Kelly Smith and actress Bo Derek, as well as two elephants and a tiger that participated with Branson in a PSA shoot on behalf of WildAid. Then the Stearnses flew back to JWA and dashed to the career night event at Sage Hill High School, where Glenn was tardy for his speech but brought a funny excuse note from Branson. Hours later the Stearnses were flying on George and Julia Argyros’ plane to Washington, D.C. so mortgage wiz Glenn could join other luminaries receiving the Horatio Alger Award …
Mindy says the honorees for the Stearnses’ Sept. 11 “Life Changing Lives” gala are George Argyros, William Lyon and Muhammad Ali …
George and Julia continue to spread the wealth. Their latest gift: $5 million for an ambulatory surgery center in their name at UCI’s future Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. The gift was announced at the institute’s gala groundbreaking last week. Entertainment was provided by Kingston Technology (drummer John Tu and his band) and UCI (guitarist Michael Drake, Terry Belmont on trumpet and vocalists Ralph Clayman and Dan Aldrich) …
The New York Times called the fight over Costa Mesa’s planned government budget cuts “the Wisconsin labor battle in miniature” …
Henry Segerstrom, who turned 88 last week, has lightened his workload a tad. Twenty-five years after starting it, he has turned over chair of the Center Club to wealth manager Victoria Collins (First Foundation Advisors, Irvine) …
Henry Vandermeier is new executive director of the OC Democratic Foundation …
Tim Gunn, co-host of Lifetime’s “Project Runway” and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, appears at Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island Saturday at 1 p.m. …
EE RR is refereeing two debates on public employee pensions: Steven Greenhut (OC Register, CalWatchdog.com) opposes Nick Berardino (OC Employees Association) April 26 at the Pacific Club, info at www.pacificresearch.com; Greenhut tangles with lawyer and former OC Assemblyman Tom Umberg at the April 27 taping of “Inside OC” …
Are derivatives and commodities immoral? Wall Street priest Seamus Finn and radio host Dennis Prager headline the Orange Catholic Foundation’s Business and Ethics conference Thursday at the Hilton OC/Costa Mesa. Honorees are San Clemente eldercare entrepreneur Jacqueline DuPont and John O’Connor, founder of Shamrock Supply Co. in Anaheim. Info at www.oc-foundation.org.
