Donald Bren still is good for $20 million, but the Irvine Company chairman’s name won’t be on UC Irvine’s law school as originally planned. “We are deeply grateful for the Bren gift, but it was decided between the chancellor and Mr. Bren that our name should be parallel to other UC schools,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of what is being called the University of California, Irvine, School of Law. The hiring of outspoken Chemerinsky stirred controversy, but both the dean and Irvine Co. spokesman John Christensen said the brouhaha had nothing to do with the naming decision. They said UCI and Bren agreed that the new school should emphasize its UC pedigree, and noted that Berkeley’s law school has decided to downplay its “Boalt Hall” name. Chemerinsky said Bren’s name could be added later. The Insider observes that megadonor Bren already has his name all over the UCI campus …
It was good, but not that good: Last week’s column meant to say that UCI’s Medal dinner raised $2.1 million, not billion …
Paul Makarechian says it was silly for congressmen and others to protest the $440,000 retreat that taxpayer-rescued AIG hosted at his St. Regis Monarch Beach. Makarechian says the outing wasn’t for AIG execs but for top sales agents who are key to the financial health of the company’s insurance unit. Still, Makarechian says he loved the “worldwide publicity” for his “five-star resort” …
Check out John Saunders’ creative ideas for stabilizing the housing industry, page 91 …
Glenn Stearns and 300 guests surprised his pregnant wife Mindy with a 40th birthday party at the OC Pavilion in Santa Ana. Then Glenn surprised 30 performers from the OC High School of the Arts by giving each an Apple laptop and printer. Another surprise: While competitors fail, Glenn says Stearns Cos. just experienced its best six months: “Basically, it makes us the largest privately held mortgage company in California now” …
Late-breaking news: Mindy was at Hoag going into labor late last week …
Glenn and Mindy also spearheaded a celebrity gala at the Montage Resort, raising nearly $1 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters, CHOC and Orangewood. (Paul Folino paid $22,000 for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, a fifth dog for Daranne.) Next, the Stearns open their Newport Coast home for a Nov. 19 gala benefiting OCHSA …
Art consultant Barbara Guggenheim keynotes and Marta Bhathal gets the Bravo award at a Girls Inc. benefit Friday at the Island Hotel …
When Julia Argyros met Sarah Palin at the OC Performing Arts Center, Argyros kidded the Alaskan governor that she too could have been John McCain’s running mate “since I am an avid hunter and fisherperson.” Palin “agreed that I would have been a viable candidate,” and Palin “is very smart and I am proud to have her representing us,” Argyros said.
