The Crowd: Giving back on a 94th birthday
Newport Beach’s Margaret Sprague, known affectionately as Peggie, celebrated her 94th birthday July 24, and rather than receive a birthday present, she gave one. In a reception area at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Peggie presented Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, president and chief executive of CHOC a birthday check for $1 million from her and her late husband Robert Sprague. The generous donation brings the Sprague contributions to Children’s Hospital to more than $2.6 million. The recent birthday donation is earmarked in support of the future growth and expansion of CHOC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Dr. Vijay Dhar, medical director of the NICU at CHOC, was front and center for the reception, joining Cripe in thanking Peggie and welcoming her extended family and friends who had come to support her on this special day. CHOC’s NICU is ranked as one of America’s top 20 neonatal units by US News and World Report.
The Spragues are unquestionably among the most treasured citizens on the Orange County scene. Over more than half of a century, the family has quietly, with great dignity and social conscience, supported numerous vitally important aspects of Orange County life, from the arts to education to health care. Peggie Sprague was joined at the CHOC reception by much-loved friends and family members including Gwen and Jeff Cole, Casey Cole, Derek Cole, Kurt Adelman, Kelly Deitrich, Mary Kirchen, Margit Meyer and Marie Sork. Also on hand were Lois Sprague, William Sprague, Mike Sy, James Walker, Crucy Durinii and the Rev. Gwynne Guibord.
*
The gift of hope
The Balboa Bay Resort Newport Beach welcomed 300 guests in black tie for the 19th annual Gift of Hope Gala benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. (MDA). An impressive $345,000 was raised benefiting various MDA service programs, including its summer camp program for kids dealing with muscular dystrophy. Presenting sponsors of the evening were Newport’s glamorous couple Marybelle and S. Paul Musco, joining the Brett and Patti Hardin family. Once again, the gala was chaired by Frank DiBella, who has been passionately involved for years in helping to raise millions of dollars. DiBella welcomed notable guests including Charlene Prager, Art Kazarian, Michael Niccole and former Prime Minister of Yugoslavia Milan Panic. The highlight of the evening was honoring Brett Hardin with the 2014 Orange County MDA Man of the Year Award. Former MDA national goodwill ambassador Abbey Umali took the stage to congratulate Hardin as the crowd offered an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Party organizers created an evening around a Las Vegas Strip theme. Gaming tables including poker tables, sans gambling, entertained the crowd during the cocktail hour at the Balboa Bay Resort. A four-course gourmet dinner was prepared and served under the direction of Executive Chef Vincent Lesage. Dinner was interspersed with a live auction that included such unique items as a private tour of the New York Stock Exchange and a very fine Chopard watch donated by Traditional Jewelers. Following dinner, guests were entertained with a live performance by “The Rat Pack,” imported directly from Las Vegas.
*
Leo returns to the ocean
Organizers call him a “champion of the ocean.” Leonardo DiCaprio, through his foundation, recently made a $3-million grant to Oceana supporting the work of the organization, including a ban on California drift gillnets in an effort to protect dolphins, whales, turtles and other marine animals from being caught and killed and considered “bycatch.” The four-time Academy Award nominee and longtime environmental advocate will front the Aug. 16 event at a magnificent Italian-inspired coastal estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Newport’s Eve Kornyei Ruffatto and Valarie Van Cleave will co-chair the massive event, joining chair emeritus Julie Hill in producing a sellout with a seven-figure charitable return. Major support for the cause and the evening comes from BMW, with major Newport-Mesa donors including Tricia and Michael Burns, Harriet and Sandy Sandhu, Britt and Robert Meyer, Valaree Wahler, Leslie and Dino Cancellieri, Maralou and Jerry Harrington, Eve and Mike Ruffatto and the Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, to name only a few. For more information, please contact Pamela George at pgeorge@oceana.org.
*
‘Idol’ stars to sing at AnQi
One of Newport-Mesa’s power couples is at it again — House of An dynamo-philanthropist Elizabeth An and her husband, entrepreneur Gordon Clune, are partnering Friday night to bring Red Hour Jam Session to AnQi at South Coast Plaza with some dazzling talent aboard. After finely tuning performances at An’s Beverly Hills celeb hot-spot, Crustacean, they are bringing the show on the road. Entertainment this evening will include the incomparable R&B songstress Macy Gray and “American Idol” winner season 12, Candice Glover. Performing as well will be top 10 alumni of season 10. It will be quite an evening, executed with An’s inimitable style. Clune’s The Left Shoe Company, a bespoke men’s footwear collection worn by many movers and shakers, is a presenting sponsor. A few seats are still available; for more information or reservations, call (714) 557-5679.
THE CROWD runs Fridays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
