The Crowd: Vikki Vargas on the scene at SPIN
In the world of broadcast journalism, it is most unusual for an on-camera reporter/anchor to enjoy a 30-plus-year career in a single market. Vikki Vargas, Orange County bureau chief for NBC 4, is such a journalist.
Her breadth and depth of knowledge on life and times in the Orange County community is unparalleled.
Last week, Vargas, who has covered everything from the 1990s O.J. Simpson white Ford Bronco slow-speed chase down the 405 to the rise and fall of the Great Park to the Hernandez embezzlement scandal and everything in between, fronted a charity luncheon for Costa Mesa-based Serving People In Need (SPIN). Reluctant at first, Vargas commented, “I report on the news. I am not a luncheon speaker.”
That being said, she agreed in order to assist Serving People In Need, one of Orange County’s most viable charities with a focus on housing assistance, job and life counseling for families in crisis. SPIN’s goal is to rescue people in trouble before they hit bottom and end up homeless.
Vargas’ boss at NBC 4 got behind her presentation, and the NBC Universal Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to SPIN in honor of the journalist.
It was not just another luncheon address. First, the setting was warm and inviting, hosted by renowned restaurateur and chef Zov Karamardian. The chef famous for her Mediterranean cuisine reserved a large section of her establishment, known as Zov’s Bistro in Tustin, to welcome supporters of SPIN coming to hear Vargas for what Zov created and termed a “Lunch and Learn” experience.
Second, Zov, along with Jean Wegener, executive director of SPIN, wanted the event to be affordable for everyone, so the ticket price was just $25 — unheard of today for a luncheon in Orange County, especially a fabulous lunch created with care consisting of a mixed vegetable kale salad, followed by a grilled Mediterranean lemon chicken breast over lemon-ginger infused rice and a dessert of Zov’s special-recipe rice pudding accompanied by butter shortbread cookies. The overflowing sold-out crowd enjoyed Zov’s hospitality followed by the Vargas address.
“Orange County has evolved,” Vargas began. “We are no longer the all-white Republican community. Orange County today is made up of substantial population numbers in both the Hispanic and Asian communities. Further, the voting base of Orange County is now nearly evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, including a large block of independent voters. The demographics are very much a reflection of what is happening all over America.”
Vargas, in an eloquent and highly professional manner, shared her experiences as a journalist in the community and explained just how stories make air.
Questions from the crowd focused on how the networks choose what is worthy to report and what is not. The polite audience, for the most part, stayed away from politically charged questions, although one man did want to know the truth about the demise of the Great Park.
Vargas declined to offer her opinion, instead following a journalistic instinct to report only the facts as known. Her speech was short and to the point, and the crowd was entertained and informed, giving her a rousing ovation. From start to finish, the event was over in under an hour and a half; Vargas was back to work on the beat and the luncheon crowd was amazed that they were out and on their way in a reasonable amount of time.
One lady commented, “Boy, this has never happened before. SPIN really knows how to organize a lunch.”
Wegener joined SPIN Development Director Kim Frazier in ensuring the smooth sailing of the operation.
“We are very proud at SPIN that we are efficient, frugal and welcoming to all members of the community who want to become involved in our organization,” Frazier said. SPIN has been in existence for over 26 years, with its primary office located in Costa Mesa but its services reaching all of Orange County. Wegener added proudly, “91% of clients assisted by SPIN become self-sufficient and remain in permanent long-term housing.”
SPIN donors and advocates in the Zov “Lunch and Learn” crowd included Al Degrassi, chairman of the SPIN board, Joe Heffington, Bill Sanderson, John Murphy, Mickey Hamer, Allan Lullman, Maureen Flanagan, Angela Anderson and Kathleen Falcetti.
Lee Healy, representing South Coast Plaza, a most generous supporter of SPIN, was front and center. Healy was responsible for securing SPIN’s celebrated guest chef, Antonio Cagnolo of Antonello Ristorante, for its upcoming annual black-tie gala set for Oct. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa Huntington Beach. Cagnolo will create an over-the-top gourmet Italian dinner working with the Hyatt’s chef and staff to throw a party that is being billed as a masquerade ball.
SPIN will honor Orange County philanthropists as “Heroes Behind the Mask.” Among the honored guests will be Julia and George Argyros/Argyros Family Foundation and Catherine and James Emmi of Corona del Mar.
Also spotted in the luncheon crowd were Karen Cohn, Louise Gilliam, Arlene Shevitski, Wendy Peterson, Liz Dohl, Kristen Hinman and Frank Groff. To learn more about SPIN’s upcoming gala and to purchase tickets priced at $300 per person, contact Frazier at (714) 751-1101, ext. 19.
THE CROWD runs Fridays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
