Show of Support
Harvesters, in collaboration with South Coast Plaza, presented the season’s most coveted styles from South Coast Plaza’s luxury retailers during the 29th Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon on Oct. 6 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The event raised more than $1.7 million in support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to address the ongoing hunger crisis in Orange County.
South Coast Plaza produced and curated the exclusive runway show featuring the fall/winter 2021 collections of iconic fashion houses. The event began with an outdoor reception featuring beverages from Nékter Juice Bar, followed by the luxury fashion show, showcasing highlights from Chloé, Isabel Marant, Lanvin, Marni, Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, The Webster and Versace. The event also featured a virtual silent auction and a gourmet luncheon.
The annual Harvesters Fashion Show and Luncheon was made possible by the support of underwriters and sponsors, including Premier Partner South Coast Plaza, corporate legacy Harvest sponsor City National Bank, as well as corporate sponsor Casey Lesher, Coldwell Banker. One hundred percent of underwriter donations from the event go directly to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.
The Fine Art of Fundraising
On Oct. 8, the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) hosted its first Art Sense Gala, which took place in-person at the construction site of the museum’s forthcoming building at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The Art Sense Gala was held one-year to date of the public opening of it its new home designed by Morphosis Architects under the direction of Pritzker-prize winner Thom Mayne, founder, Morphosis Architects, and Brandon Welling, partner-in-charge, Morphosis Architects, who were both present at the event.
The sold-out Art Sense Gala had a futuristic theme, welcomed 280 guests, and netted $1 million for the museum and its operations. The sum raised is three times the achievement of any previous OCMA fundraising event. Earlier this week, OCMA announced free general admission for a decade upon opening to the public in its new building in October 2022 courtesy of a $2.5 million commitment from Lugano Diamonds.
Art Sense was presented by lead sponsor Sotheby’s with sponsorship contributions also from Lugano Diamonds and J.P. Morgan. In addition to the corporate sponsors, Art Sense was made possible by the event underwriters Cerity Partners LLC, Creative Fundraising Advisors and others.
Ante Up for Hope
The TACA (The Autism Community in Action) 15th Annual Ante Up for Autism gala and casino night took place Sept. 25 at the Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach. The sold-out event raised $900,000 in support of TACA’s mission to provide education, support and hope to families living with autism. Orange County supporters gathered in-person safely and responsibly while the evening program was live streamed to viewing parties hosted throughout the country.
Warne Foundation, Oldham Global, Wright Ford Young & Co., Microsoft, Smith Group, Stark, Tenant, Dunbar Real Estate Investment Management, UBS, Wells Fargo Advisors, Tustin Toyota and Stradling Attorneys at Law were among the many sponsors.
Rock the Journey
More than 300 supporters of Laura’s House came together at the Newport Beach Country Club on Oct. 2 to mark the nonprofit’s 27th Anniversary.
Themed, Never Rock Alone, the event raised more than $700,000 for services benefiting domestic violence victims, including residential shelter services, counseling and legal services, and prevention and community outreach programs among others. Funds raised also will support the “The Power of the Journey” capital campaign for the new Laura’s House Domestic Violence Resource Center in Aliso Viejo, Orange County’s first multi-service collaborative focused on holistic domestic violence-related services.
Event speakers included opening remarks from Laura Khouri, president, Western National Property Management and gala chair and Margaret Bayston, CEO and executive director, Laura’s House.
The “Power of the Journey” capital campaign committee co-chairs, Wayne Pinnell, CPA, Haskell & White LLP and Cheryl Osborn, president and CEO, Casco Contractors Inc., said that $5.8 million of the $10 million capital campaign goal has been raised to date, due in part to a recent $250,000 donation from Robert Olson, president and CEO, R.D. Olson Development, which was announced at the event.
Marla Robinson, partner, Merhab Robinson & Clarkson Law Corporation, was presented with the Laura’s House Crystal Heart Award for her dedication, commitment and support of the Laura’s House mission.
Khouri and Michael K. Hayde, chairman of the board and CEO, Western National Group, were the presenting sponsors for the gala. Other key sponsors included Lisa Argyros, the Argyros Family Foundation and the Nancy and Geoffrey Stack Family Foundation, the Thompson Foundation, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Haskell & White; Merhab Robinson Clarkson Law Corporation, ShurDry Restoration, R.D. Olson Development and U.S. Bank.
