A Sure Bet
Nearly 300 guests donned their best party clothes during a night of Las Vegas-style poker at the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 19th Annual Gift of Hope Gala on May 31. The event, held at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, also featured a live performance by the Rat Pack, direct from the Vegas strip.
It raised more than $344,000, all of which will benefit the association’s services program, including summer camp for kids with muscular dystrophy.
Celebrity Chef Jamie Gwen presented the Orange County MDA Man of the Year Award to Bret Hardin, president of Ancon Marine and former MDA National Goodwill Ambassador.
Orange County philanthropists S. Paul and Marybelle Musco, and the Hardin family, were the presenting sponsors.
A Million Ways to Help
Irvine-based TCA Architects raised more than $100,000 at its 14th annual charity golf tournament on June 12. All proceeds from the event will be used to build and repair affordable homes for low-income, veteran and active military families in Westminster, Cypress, Anaheim and Fullerton. Since the event’s inaugural tournament in 2000, the annual fundraiser has brought in almost $1 million for the nonprofit group.
“Being that TCA Architects specializes in the design and construction of multifamily residential communities, partnering with Habitat for Humanity was a natural fit for us,” said Aram Chahbazian, TCA Architects’ president and managing partner.
Other event contributors included TK Burgers, Ducati, Jack Daniels and Pedego Electric Bikes.
Pacific Coast Dreamin’
Hundreds of barefoot partygoers watched famed artist Robert Wyland paint original artwork at Bolsa Chica State Beach at the annual Pacific Coast Dreamin’ Barefoot Ball on June 11 as they raised more than $120,000 to support the Bolsa Chica Conservancy.
The artist, best known for his life-sized whale paintings, worked before more than 200 guests, who bought individual works as the pieces dried in the ocean air. Funds went to support the organization’s conservation efforts and education based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“If you want to protect the ocean today, talk to folks our age,” Wyland said. “If you want to protect the ocean for the future, teach our children.”
Wyland was presented with the Conservator of the Year award by the conservancy during the event.
The ball was sponsored by Disneyland Resort, Edison International, AES and Boeing Co. Guests ate seafood and listened to festive music.
Notable guests included Ed Laird, chairman of the board at Laird Coatings Corp.; Patrick Brenden, chief executive and president of Home-Run Media Services; Cory Cascia, director of facilities at Quiksilver and head of the Quiksilver Foundation; and Teresa Howe, director of health, safety and environment at Boeing Co.
Healing Art
Art & Creativity for Healing Inc.’s annual fundraising dinner, Palette of Colors: A Tuscan Evening, netted $75,000 on June 7. The sold-out event, whose main sponsor was Irvine-based cloud computing company Zumasys Inc., took place at the Mission Viejo Country Club. Proceeds go to support free Art4Healing programs for families dealing with the effects of autism, as well as for underprivileged children, victims of domestic violence, and homeless children and their families. The organization’s mission is to support emotional healing through creative expression and art for those with pain, stress, fear or grief.
Bits & Pieces
Shannon Eusey, president of Beacon Pointe Advisors and vice president of philanthropy for the National Charity League, Newport chapter, escorted new league members on the Annual Provisional Philanthropic Bus Tour on June 2 to hand out checks to local charities. … Huntington Beach-based Communities For Cause, a startup helping to match nonprofit groups with businesses, has raised $475,000 as part of an ongoing seed-funding round.
