A Toast to Pacific Symphony
Music and wine proved to be a perfect pairing at the ninth Pacific Coast Wine Festival benefitting Pacific Symphony. The Feb. 27 event drew more than 300 guests to the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.
The evening raised more than $350,000, which will benefit Pacific Symphony’s educational outreach programs. The symphony partners with 32 local schools each year, bringing over 17,500 students to see performances at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
This year’s festival was sponsored by Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin Newport Beach and featured 25 wineries and distributors, including Adelaida Cellars, Beekeeper Cellars, Darioush, Fairest Cape, Golden State Wine Co., Hirsch Vineyards, Justin Vineyards and Winery, Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits, Lewelling Vineyards, Margaux and Friends, Notre Vin, Point Neuf Wines, Riverain, St. Innocent Winery, St. Supery Wines, Vintage Wine Estates, Willakenzie, Wine Exchange, and Zotovich Vineyards and Winery.
Dining and Giving Together
Table for 10 held its 10th annual culinary event for a sold-out crowd of 300 at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point on March 6. Table for 10 features gourmet food, wine pairings, and tables decorated uniquely by each participating restaurant.
The event raised $300,000 for Orange County charities The Teen Project and Vocational Visions. The former provides teens aging out of the foster care system the resources and support of an intact family in order to allow them to successfully transition to adulthood. Vocational Visions’ programs, services and personalized support develop the talents of adults with disabilities by creating pathways to employment, life-long learning and social inclusion.
Participating restaurants included Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Café Jardin, The Loft, Montage Laguna Beach and The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar.
Among those attending the event were table sponsors Susan Samueli, a Samueli Institute board member; Lindsey Ueberroth, president and chief executive of Preferred Hotels & Resorts; Mike Danzi, chief executive of Legacy Pharmaceuticals International; and Ed Lee, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco.
Touchdown for Orangewood
Athletes First, a Laguna Hills sports agency that represents more than 140 athletes and coaches, partnered with Orangewood Foundation and its PALS auxiliary again this year and hosted its annual two-day fundraiser, The Athletes First Classic.
The gala event was held at St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach in Dana Point on March 5 and drew more than 600 guests. The culmination of the evening was the presentation of the 2016 Golden Heart Award to Deloitte for the company’s leadership in doing good works and benefiting humanity, and to former NFL players Clay Matthews Jr. and Bruce Matthews for being positive role models who have made contributions off the field.
The following day, foursomes enjoyed a round of golf with an athlete as a fifth player at Monarch Beach Golf Links.
The net money raised from the two-day event exceeded $500,000 and will be used for Orangewood programs for former foster youth in Orange County, including college scholarships, transitional housing, mentors and basic needs.
Major sponsors included JetSuite, Lexus, Deloitte and Experian.
Fundraising as an Art Form
Santa Ana-based Orange County School of the Arts presented its Gala 2016: OCSA Music Awards on March 12 at Hotel Irvine. More than 600 business and community leaders and arts patrons attended the sold-out black-tie event, which raised $915,000 in support of the school’s 14 arts conservatory programs.Â
The gala took guests on a musical journey that celebrated the biggest musical icons. School of the Arts students performed songs by artists such as Christina Aguilera, U2, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Eagles and Michael Jackson.
The Argyros, S. Paul Musco, Newkirk, and the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom families were honored as the event’s honorary co-chairs for their contributions to the school.
Event underwriters included Audi Mission Viejo, Audi Newport Beach, Walter’s Audi, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Hotel Irvine, Russian River Vineyards and Z Gallerie.
Bits & Pieces
Santa Ana-based nonprofit group MOMS Orange County received two box trucks full of diapers and other baby items from HomeAid Orange County valued at more than $15,000. … Amy Behrens has assumed the position of marketing and public relations director at Casa Romantica in San Clemente. … On April 28, 400 Orange County-based nonprofit organizations will participate in Orange County Community Foundation’s annual donation drive, OC I Heart Giving Day, when they’ll receive matching funds based on online-raised monies.
