Frank About Cancer
City of Hope’s Inaugural “Let’s Be Frank About Cancer” Gala grossed more than $1.6 million.
The event, held Feb. 28 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, honored City of Hope’s Dr. Sumanta Pal and cancer survivor Frank Di Bella for their dedication to finding a cure for cancer. Funds from the vintage Vegas-themed black-tie event will support Pal’s cancer research.
More than 400 attended the gala, including Milan Panic, founder and chief executive of MP Biomedicals and a former prime minister of Yugoslavia; California Gov. Jerry Brown; and OC industrialist and philanthropist Paul Musco. Panic and Musco were also platinum sponsors of the evening.
$1M+ for Children, Families
More than 400 credit union chief executives and other executives and their business partners in Orange County and across California raised over $1 million for 11 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during the 10th Annual Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction on Feb. 20 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa—a record amount in the event’s 10-year history.
Proceeds from the sold-out event will help ill children and their families in Nevada and California. Eric Day, board member of Anaheim Hills-based Credit Union of Southern California, presented a $200,000 donation.
The auction has raised over $3.6 million since 2006 for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Children’s Hospital Orange County.
Corporate sponsors were the CUNA Mutual Group, CU Direct Corp., California and Nevada Credit Union leagues and CO-OP Financial Services.
Napa in Newport
CureDuchenne’s Napa in Newport Wine Auction raised $680,000 to support the organization’s mission to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle-wasting disease.
Nearly 300 guests attended the Feb. 28 event at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
Guests had the opportunity to taste wine from 29 Napa Valley wineries, including Anomaly, Gemstone Winery and Vineyard 29. Chuck and Anne McMinn, owners of Vineyard 29, were the honorary event co-chairs.
Event sponsors included First Foundation Advisors; BioMarin; 55°; Kenny the Printer; Masimo Corp.; FlexJet; Argyros Family Foundation; WHGC; Sarepta Therapeutics; Paloma Medical Group; John Balisey & Co.; and the Ueberroth Family Foundation.
Dig It
More than 50 employees of Irvine-based LPA Inc. planted trees at Bommer Canyon in Irvine on March 6 to commemorate LPA’s 50th anniversary.
The event, held in partnership with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, aimed to underscore LPA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
The firm is planting 50 trees in each of its five locations—250 trees in all, each one representing a company employee. Workers in LPA’s Roseville and San Diego offices planted trees in nearby locations on March 7, and on April 24, National Arbor Day, its San Antonio, Texas, and San Jose offices will plant trees.
Bits & Pieces
California State University-Fullerton business alumnus Jeffrey S. Van Harte, chairman and chief investment officer of San Francisco-based Jackson Square Partners, given the university a $1.5 million gift to expand a student-managed investment fund he helped create and to establish an investment management center, according to the school’s news service. … Susan G. Komen Orange County honored eight volunteers at its 2015 Volunteer Recognition Event on Feb. 21, including Teresa Blanco of Northgate Gonzalez Markets in Santa Ana and Marc Butman of Fineline Woodworks in Costa Mesa. … Santa Ana-based KidWorks received a $75,000 grant from the Annenberg Foundation to support weekly fitness, arts, educational and leadership development programs conducted at three community centers.
