Napa in Newport
A sold-out crowd gathered at the Ritz-Carlton on March 3 to enjoy the best of Napa Valley wineries and help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The fourth annual Napa in Newport wine auction raised more than $1 million dollars to support CureDuchenne’s mission to extend and improve the lives of those affected by the fatal genetic disease that causes muscle degeneration in children.
Arkenstone, Arrow&Branch, Bryant Family Vineyard, CADE Estate Winery, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Darioush, Dark Matter, Gargiulo Vineyards, Gemstone Vineyard, Hill Family Estate, Hourglass, Marston Family Vineyard, Memento Mori, Morlet Family Vineyards, Nellcote, Odette Estate Winery, Quintessa, Rudd Oakville Estate, Secret Indulgence, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, Trois Noix, Vérité, Vineyard 29 and ZD Wines were among the vintner partners.
Napa in Newport sponsors included Karma Automotive, South Coast Plaza, Govino, Fullmer Construction, Golden West Food Group and Experian. The event featured a full-course dinner by Chef Andrew Sutton, culinary director of Disneyland Resort Signature Restaurants.
Time for Tee
Caribou Industries, Wells Fargo, CBRE Group Inc. and Lyon Living were among the key sponsors for the sixth annual KidWorks Classic Golf Tournament, which was played for the third time at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach.
The event earned a record $270,000 for the KidWorks College Success Initiative, which provides students with tools, resources and support needed to graduate from high school and college.
Thanks to a matching grant, each dollar raised at the tournament was doubled.
KidWorks’ Board Member Bruce Pasqua and the Nevell Group Inc. won the tournament.
Other sponsors included Ben’s Asphalt, Rockwell’s Bakery and Watson’s Soda Fountain & Café.
Fun, Games and Fundraising
Casino-style game tables were packed with poker players at the ninth annual Pretend City Children’s Museum Poker Fundraising Night on May 10 at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. More than 100 Orange County philanthropists and business leaders took to their poker chips and cards to participate in the five-hour fundraiser, taking in more than $170,000.
“Our poker fundraising tournament shines as an important milestone marker and fundraiser for Pretend City Children’s Museum’s educational mission,” said Morgan Lewis Partner Randy Wood, a Pretend City Children’s Museum board member and event chairman. “Since the fundraising event’s inception … many familiar and new faces take action and give meaning to purposeful play through hands-on exhibits, engaging programs, special events, and scholarships for the underserved.”
Event sponsors included Lyon Living, London Consulting Group, William Lyon Homes, Episource, Sabra Health Care REIT Inc., Morgan Lewis, MSI and United Capital.
Business Is an Art
Segerstrom Center for the Arts honored Lugano Diamonds Chief Executive Moti Ferder and TriGuard Management Co-Founder and Managing Partner Samuel Tang at its annual Arts and Business Leadership Awards Dinner on May 24 in the Samueli Theater. The event raised $300,000 to support center community engagement and education programs. More than 300 attended.
Ferder received the center’s Distinguished Leader Award, and Tang the Rising Leader Award. The Distinguished Leader Award pays tribute to an established corporate leader, while the Rising Leader Award goes to a young corporate star, both of whom have demonstrated business leadership and consistent, generous support to Orange County’s arts organizations.
The evening included a networking cocktail party and dinner and awards presentation, followed by a performance of “Hamilton” in Segerstrom Hall.
The evening’s sponsors included Lugano Diamonds, Water Grill, Kia Motors America, Yamaha, Pau Maui Vodka, Rutan & Tucker LLP, Orco Block & Hardscape and Bradford Portraits.
Bits & Pieces
On June 13, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County received the keys to a new mobile dental care unit donated by QueensCare, which plans to provide dental exams and care to more than 1,000 children from low-income families. … Now through July 31, Orange County Credit Union is partnering with Anaheim White House Restaurant to host a pasta drive benefiting Caterina’s Club, with the goal of providing meals to 3,500 children. … City National Bank donated $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County for its 10th Annual Leaders Build Project in Fullerton.
