Wishes Come True
Women’s Circle of Wishes hosted its fourth annual signature event on Feb. 12 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. The It’s in the Bag event centered on an auction featuring dozens of designer purses, wallets and bags, all brand-new and donated by individuals and companies. Brands included Tory Burch, Lamb, Louis Vuitton and other top names. More than 300 guests attended the afternoon luncheon.
The event raised $115,000, all of which will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange and the Inland Empire.
“These funds will impact 15 children and help us as we aim to grant the wish of every medically-eligible child,” said the organization’s chief executive, Stephanie McCormick.
The event included an opportunity drawing featuring a 14-karat, white gold diamond tennis bracelet valued at $5,225 and donated by William Harold and Sons Jewelers, and a strand of fresh water pearls valued at $1,600 that was donated by Happy Jewelers. Event sponsors included Trojan Battery, Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning, Loan Depot, 85°c Bakery and Easy Breezy Home Concierge.
Commitment to Kids
Irvine Public Schools Foundation hosted its third annual Top 100 VIP Reception on Feb. 8 at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach.
Companies represented on the foundation’s Top 100 List include companies such as Google, Broadcom, Kia Motors, DCI Engineers, Maruchan, FivePoint and Ingersoll Rand/Trane.
Corporate giving to the foundation last year, including city of Irvine Challenge Match Grant funds, totaled more than $3.1 million.
“This year we are particularly excited to have found partners committed to helping build a strong foundation for the next-generation workforce through our Irvine CubeSat STEM program,” said foundation President and Chief Executive Neda Eaton. “(This) is providing our high school students the opportunity to assemble, test, and launch a satellite into orbit and make history here in Irvine.”
A Taste of Love
Nonprofit Community Service Programs hosted more than 500 wine lovers and humanitarians to help raise over $100,000 to benefit its Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, a safe haven for homeless, runaway, abused and at-risk youth. The seventh annual Love Grows by Giving Wine Tasting fundraiser took place at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa on Feb. 10.
The event featured varietals from PRP Wine International, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Southern Hemisphere Wine Center, Young’s Market Co., Rodney Strong Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Main Street Wine Co., Brix Sunset Beach and Kendall-Jackson.
The night also included wine education and food pairings from local fine dining restaurants, such as Watertable at Hyatt Regency, Duke’s, Red Table, BLK and Buon Gusto. There were also beer and vodka samplings, live music and more.
Event sponsors included the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, Woravka Family Foundation, Kia Car Pros Huntington Beach, Angels Baseball, Speedo, Chevron, AES Huntington Beach, NuVision Federal Credit Union and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, as well as individual sponsors.
A Giver Receives
Bruno Serato, owner of Anaheim White House Restaurant and founder of nonprofit organization Caterina’s Club, which provides pasta dinners to thousands of homeless children every night, received the support of fellow restaurateurs, business owners and community members following a Feb. 4 fire that severely damaged his iconic restaurant and left his staff unemployed.
More than 430 guests attended the evening occasion on Feb. 20 at the Highway 39 Event Center in Anaheim. It featured food tastings and wine pairings from more than 20 Orange County restaurants, including Mozambique, Zov’s Bistro, Provenance, Taps, The Catch, Clay Oven, Pascal’s, D’Vine Mediterranean, Fiesta Adobo, Sea Legs, Skyloft, Sundried Tomato American Bistro, Yves Restaurant & Wine Bar, Dickey’s BBQ, Summit Event Catering and the off-site Anaheim White House Catering.
The event raised $66,840, which will be used to help support Anaheim White House employees until the restaurant is rebuilt and to supplement costs that the restaurant’s insurance doesn’t cover.
