Deck the Runway
Friends of CASA, a membership auxiliary of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County, hosted its annual Holiday Luncheon & Fashion Show on Dec. 8 at Vea Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa.
Presented by South Coast Plaza and Lafayette 148, this year’s event had a record-breaking net for the ninth year in a row, raising more than $620,000.
The funds will go directly to supporting CASA’s mission of providing a powerful voice and a meaningful connection for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and abandonment.
More than 435 guests attended the holiday-themed event, which included a reception with tray-passed champagne and a silent auction. The runway show featured a sneak preview of Layafette 148’s Resort 2023 collection. Following the program, a pop-up shop provided guests with the opportunity to purchase items just seen on the runway. A portion of the proceeds from the pop-up shop were donated back to CASA.
The event sponsors included Lucy Donahue, chief strategy officer, By Light, board member, CASA; Sara Van Dusen, managing partner, Parcon Media; and Chris Van Dusen, CEO, Parcon Media; the Jacqueline Glass Family Foundation; BDO; Wells Fargo; and Lugano Diamonds.
Wyland, Water and a Way to Help
The Wyland Foundation held its annual gala and fundraiser at the Art-A-Fair grounds in Laguna Beach on Nov. 13. The event was preceded by a VIP whale and dolphin watch excursion hosted by Hess Verdon & Associates and Dana Wharf, followed by a walk-through of a new state-of-the art audio visual experience aboard the foundation’s clean water center, which was on display at Dana Wharf.
More than $300,000 was raised to support the Wyland Foundation’s local and national efforts for clean water and healthy oceans.
Title sponsor for the event was Norwegian Cruise Lines, with major support from Revolve3, Hess Verson & Associates, Nissan of Irvine, Integrity Ingredients Corporation, California Bank and Trust and Seven Days Cocktails.
The foundation has received recent acclaim for its outreach work to communities and cities through programs including its national mayor’s challenge for water conservation, national classroom mural challenge, and its traveling 1,000-square-foot clean water mobile learning center which runs on biofuel.
Good Things Happen After Dark
The Drake Gives held its second annual Drake After Dark event on Dec. 1 at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. The organization is the nonprofit arm of The Drake, the Laguna Beach landmark restaurant and live music venue. The evening raised $200,000, which will directly support music programming within the Orange County public school system through the Save the Music Foundation.
The Seven Degrees lounge was transformed into a prohibition era hideout to reflect the event’s “speakeasy” theme, complete with four signature cocktail selections. Guests enjoyed dinner handcrafted by Chef Donald Lockhart, executive chef, Canyon Venues, followed by a live auction.
Doug Freeman, CEO and executive chair, Orange County Music and Dance, and founder, National Philanthropy Day, was honored at the event for his longtime support of local nonprofits including the Pacific Symphony, The Literacy Project and the Larry and Helen Hoag Foundation.
Event sponsors included the Tarsadia Foundation, Remy Cointreau, Irvine BMW, Cueva Entertainment, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach Club, OC Music and Dance, Tight Assets, Fir Audio, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Caviar Express and The Linksman.
“Our second annual Drake After Dark Event exceeded our expectations, thanks to the generosity of our donors,” said Alec Glasser, founder, The Drake and founder, The Drake Gives. “The funds raised will directly impact underserved youth within the Orange County public school system, inspiring hope and creating opportunities for their futures.”
Bits & Pieces
MUFG Union Bank donated $70,000 to the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, its largest ever single donation supporting first-generation, college-bound scholars. … Angels Baseball Foundation hosted its 16th annual Children’s Holiday Event at Angel Stadium on Dec. 1, serving approximately 450 adults and children associated with local nonprofits including Anaheim Family YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress, Boys and Girls Club – Westminster, Easterseals Disability Services, OC Rescue Mission, Olive Crest and Project Access. … Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary in Dana Point donated more than $130,000 to Ukraine for humanitarian aid in medical equipment and medical supplies, including five ambulances and ultrasound machines, as well as $25,000 in canned goods to the local residents.