London Calling
Sept. 24 marked an evening of celebration as over 300 guests gathered at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach for the 22nd annual Laura’s House Gala. Urban Decay, Verizon Pacific Hospitality Group, Park Newport Apartments and Haskell & White LLP were among the major sponsors.
British fashion, style and music, complete with a Mick Jagger impersonator, filled the venue in support of the domestic violence nonprofit as its British Invasion-themed gala raised over $650,000 for domestic violence victims with emergency shelter, community programs, legal advocacy services and more.
Two Laura’s House supporters were recognized during the program for contributions to the nonprofit group. This year’s Corporate Crystal Heart Award was accepted by Wende Zomnir, co-founder and chief creative officer of Urban Decay Cosmetics. The brand is headquartered in Newport Beach and is a Laura’s House partner. Last year it donated $50,000 to the group as a part of its Ultraviolet Edge initiative to empower women. It made a similar donation this year.
Raising Spirits for Veterans
Autobytel, Pacific Premier Bank, Plaza Bank, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Emily & Scott Reynolds, RETS Associates, Kimco Realty, PIMCO, Union Bank and Technossus were among the Orange County-based companies supporting Working Wardrobes’ annual fundraising gala, That’s the Spirit.
The sold-out event took place Sept. 24 at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The more than $250,000 raised at the gala will fund the nonprofit group’s VetNet program, which provides career readiness and life skills services to veterans returning from war.
The 300-plus guests enjoyed Spanish-inspired cuisine by Soiree catering, a professional salsa performance by Matt Brown and Amanda Ponce of Sway Ballroom Dance, live music, site tours, and a magician. The evening also included silent and live auctions.
So Many Reasons to Celebrate
Human Options celebrated its 35th anniversary by hosting the annual Fall Luncheon for Domestic Violence Awareness on Oct. 13 at Hotel Irvine. The luncheon netted $122,000, which will go toward Human Options’ domestic violence programs, including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, legal advocacy and community education.
The luncheon featured keynote speaker Jackson Katz, an educator, author, filmmaker, cultural theorist, and activist on issues of violence and gender. He co-founded the Mentors in Violence Prevention program.
Katz encouraged men to do more than just avoid being perpetrators of domestic violence. He stressed that in order for the cycle of domestic violence to end, men must actively take a stand against the behaviors and beliefs that normalize gender-based violence.
Ladies Night
The 8th Annual Girls’ Night Out was a sold-out affair, with over 300 women attending. Wilson Automotive Group, Montage Laguna Beach, Newport Lexus, Starfish and Winston’s Crown Jewelers shared the role of presenting sponsors. The Sept. 29 event took place at Rockledge, the private ocean-view Laguna Beach home of longtime Boys & Girls Club supporters Holly and David Wilson, owners of the Wilson Automotive Group.
The evening raised more than $100,000, all of which will be used to support and enhance the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach’s character-enhancement programs designed to build confidence and provide guidance.
Guests enjoyed cuisine provided by Starfish, Laguna Beach and participated in a silent auction. There was also an opportunity drawing featuring a $10,000, 19.64 Carat Cabochon Australian Fire Opal donated by Winston’s Jewelers.
Bits & Pieces
Building systems integrator Envise hosted The Greatest Gatsby, a roaring ‘20s inspired fundraising event, on Sept. 17 that raised $110,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program. … Cox Charities Foundation recently awarded $51,000 to 18 Orange County nonprofit organizations focusing on youth, education, military and conservation organizations. … Orange County Young Executives held its Hearts for Children Casino Night on Oct. 1 at The New Port Theater in Corona del Mar, netting approximately $40,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of OC.
