Making an Extraordinary Difference
More than 200 guests enjoyed a lively evening at the Extraordinary Lives Foundation’s (ELF) annual Comedy Night Gala on Oct. 23, netting approximately $200,000. Held at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, the evening began with a cocktail hour, silent auction and live musical entertainment among Marconi’s vast luxury, rare and historic car and memorabilia collection. The dinner program was followed by an entertaining comedy show with host Jennifer Arundale, comedian Angela Hoover and featuring The Sklar Brothers, identical twins, comedians and actors best known for hosting the show Cheap Seats, which aired for four seasons on ESPN.
Major Comedy Night underwriters included Reproductive Fertility Center; California State Treasurer Fiona Ma; the Samueli Foundation and Hoag.
The funds raised at the event will support ELF’s two major programs, Piggie BEAR (Building Emotional Awareness & Resilience) toolkits and the Children’s Emotional Wellness Week (CHEWW) program.
Piggie BEAR toolkits, which are donated to children’s hospitals, family homeless faculties and domestic violence shelters, include a Piggie Bear plush and the “Power of Piggie Bear” bilingual therapeutic book that teaches children coping skills, including how to reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem.
ELF’s CHEWW program was developed in collaboration with an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Consultant for Early Childhood Educators (ECE’s) to promote emotional intelligence and resilience. Participating ECE’s are provided with their own Piggie Bear classroom toolkit, containing daily lessons and activities to implement in the classroom.
Giving is Always in Fashion
Harvesters held its 32nd Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon on Oct. 9 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, raising nearly $1.6 million for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.
The exclusive event, orchestrated by the Harvesters, began with a champagne reception. The 340 attendees enjoyed a mobile silent auction, offering exclusive items such as jewelry, handbags, travel experiences and a private wine-tasting experience.
Then guests were escorted into the Samueli Theater for the South Coast Plaza runway show, which was transformed into a high-fashion showcase featuring over 35 looks from Balmain’s fall/winter 2024-2025 collections. Following the event, guests reconvened in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall lobby for a gourmet luncheon.
This year, post-luncheon festivities continued at an after-party at the newly remodeled Park Club.
In addition to the event’s main fundraising efforts, attendees were also encouraged to support funding a new tractor for Harvest Solutions Farm, a key partnership of Second Harvest Food Bank, Solutions for Urban Agriculture and the University of California South Coast Research & Extension Center.
The tractor will enhance the 40-acre farm’s ability to provide fresh produce to approximately 442,000 people each month, including children, working families and seniors.
“Orange County is facing a hidden hunger crisis, with one in 10 residents experiencing food insecurity—a rate rising faster than the state average,” said Claudia Bonilla Keller, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.
“This Fashion Show & Luncheon will make an enormous difference in the lives of the approximately 442,000 residents we serve monthly.”
On Oct. 30, Keller won the Business Journal’s Women in Business Award during 30th annual event.
Harvesters Fashion Show & Luncheon was made possible by the support of corporate sponsors South Coast Plaza and City National Bank, as well as Mikimoto, Versace, Loewe and others.
For a GREAT Cause
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast (BGC of Central OC) raised a record of $700,000 during its annual BE GREAT Gala. The funds were fueled by an initial pledge from Orange County philanthropists Julia and George Argyros of $75,000, followed by fellow Orange County philanthropists Helen and Peter Maxwell matching with an additional $75,000 gift, doubling the total and bringing it to $150,000. The funds will allow BGC of Central OC to expand its reach and serve over 10,000 Orange County youth annually through its enriching programs and first-class mentorship.
Held Oct. 5 at the VEA in Newport Beach, the BE GREAT Gala featured a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, musical performances from Club Kids and a three-course dinner. Sponsors included:
- Banc of California
- Brown-Forman
- Delante Systems
- Fifth Third Bank
- Haskell & White
- Hyundai Capital America
- Kohl’s
- Netwatch
- Pacific Life Foundation
- US Bank
- Xerox
BGC of Central OC honored Shannon and Frank Tucker, owners and operators, Terrace Hill Olive Oil Co., Tucker Family Farms, with the 2024 DreamMaker award for their support for more than 20 years, including 15 on the organization’s board of directors. Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, was also recognized with the Corporate Champion Award.
Since 2020, Panda Cares has committed more than $42 million to enhance academic programming and establish Panda Cares Centers of Hope in Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.
“We are incredibly grateful to all our donors who showed up today to make a lasting impact on the thousands of youth we serve,” said Robert Santana, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast.
“Our mission is to ensure every child has mentors and champions in life, and tonight proved that our youth truly have advocates in their corner.”
