The Romance of the Mission benefit gala was held Sept. 13 on the historic grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano with 420 guests in attendance. The sold-out black-tie event raised $300,000, which will support the preservation and stewardship of Orange County’s only mission.
The evening began with a cocktail and wine reception. Claudia and Randy Redwitz, founder, Redwitz CPAs/Trusted Advisors, were honored for their 20-plus years of supporting the mission, including guiding education programs and preservation efforts.
The reception was followed by a live concert in the Ruins of The Great Stone Church featuring Forte, an operatic trio of male vocalists who were finalists on America’s Got Talent. As the singers performed, digital images, including visuals of swallows, stained glass windows and the Retablo, a devotional painting using iconography derived from traditional Catholic church art, were projected in the background.
Following the concert, guests enjoyed a curated four-course dinner provided by the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Major event underwriters included George and Eden O’Connell/O’Connell Family Foundation and the Moiso Family. Gavin Herbert Jr., president of Roger’s Gardens, and his wife, Kerry, oversaw the evening’s floral design and décor. Lugano Diamonds gifted diamond earrings valued at $18,000 for the opportunity drawing. Additional opportunity drawing donors included Discovery Cube Orange County, Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Sonance Foundation, Sunstone Hotel Investors and Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club.
Brand Enhance Parking & Hospitality, BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linen, 3:16 Bakery Shop and Signature Rentals contributed to the dinner and concert experience. Dinner wine pairings were provided by Dr. Rudi Brutoco and Diana Brutoco, founders, Brutoco Cellars, and the beer service was donated by Mission Brewery.
“Fore” 100
Orange County United Way continued celebrating its 100th anniversary with its Journey to 100 Golf Tournament on Sept. 9 at The Huntington Club in Huntington Beach. The event brought together golf enthusiasts and philanthropists to raise funds to support Orange County residents. The day-long tournament consisted of 18 holes of golf, an awards dinner and a silent auction.
The event netted close to $100,000 to support Orange County United Way’s mission to ensure local students succeed, families gain financial security, those experiencing homelessness find a place to call home, and residents are connected to the resources and services they need.
Sponsors included Circular Integrity, Disneyland Resort, PNC Bank, Aston Martin Newport Beach, AAA, Comcast, Crevier BMW, Custom Comfort Mattress, Deloitte, Fletcher Jones Motor Cars and Health Cues. Blythe Global Advisors was the beverage underwriter, Whittier Trust was the Putting Contest sponsor and Conic10 served as the pin hole sponsor.
Year-long corporate Journey to 100 sponsors include 84Vikings for Good, Eaton, KPMG Foundation, Niagara Cares and Pacific Life Foundation.
“The ‘Journey to 100’ Golf Tournament was a fun way to celebrate a century of Orange County United Way and all of the great work that has been achieved together throughout the years,” said Susan Parks, president and CEO of the local United Way organization. “Through friendly competition on the course we connected with our partners, sponsors and the broader Orange County community. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined us on this remarkable journey.”
Playtime!
Orange County builders, architects and designers created playhouses for Project Playhouse 2024, supporting HomeAid’s mission to help those experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives. The creations include a child-sized Barbie Dream House, a tropical-themed play shack with surfboards, a pint-sized farmhouse, a custom doghouse with a fire hydrant and an adult escape featuring a rooftop deck.
On Sept. 11, the Project Playhouse 2024 VIP Night celebrated the creators of these playhouses. The event recognized the dedication of builders such as City Ventures, Shea Homes, New Home Co., Tri Pointe Homes and Toll Brothers, all of whom donated their time to bring their visions to life.
City Ventures took home the Best in Show, Imagination and Playful awards for their “Dream House” entry. Shea Homes won the Designer Award for their “Charmhouse,” while New Home’s “Surf Shack” earned the Secret Garden Award. Toll Brothers’ “Accessory Outdoor Unit” received the Craftsman Award, and Tri Pointe Homes’ “Paw’s Pointe” won the Spirit Award.
Project Playhouse sponsors include Fidelity National Title, Behr Paint Company and Banc of California. Additional contributions came from the New Home Company, Landsea Homes, Prospera Hotels, Brookfield Homes, First American Title, Antis Roofing, Tri Pointe Homes, Prologis and the Frome Family Foundation. In-kind donations included contributions from Brio Italian, Circle M, Dave & Busters, Fusion, Reliable Lumber and Tarantino Landscape Inc.
The playhouses, displayed near the Giant Wheel at the Irvine Spectrum Center and open to the public, will be auctioned on Oct. 5 at HomeAid’s annual gala.
Bits & Pieces
Cox Communications and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrated the start of a new school year Sept. 17 with a visit to Carl Hankey TK-8 Academy in Mission Viejo as part of the 4th Annual Classroom Connections program where Angels infielder Eric Wagaman shared what it is like to be a professional baseball player. The player, who was born in Mission Viejo, answered questions from students during an all-school assembly … In August, Junk King Orange County made two charitable contributions to OC nonprofits, including The Bicycle Tree, which received a bike rack and five electric bicycles, and the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center, which received nearly 100 brand-new musical instruments, including accordions, trumpets, saxophones, violins, harmonicas, clarinets, guitars and trombones … Through its signature, Masons4Mitts baseball mitt drive, Masons of California, in affiliation with the Angels Nike RBI League, raised a record-setting $55,000 this season for youth development programs, which was presented to the Angels Nike RBI League during a special pre-game celebration on the field on Sept. 17.
