The Crowd: Spreading awareness of children’s needs

This is National Child Awareness Month. Every weekend in September, South Coast Plaza will hold events at the retail center in conjunction with the work of multiple charities focused on child welfare in Orange County. The month-long commitment is the brainchild of Festival of Children Foundation, created by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, who serves as executive director of the foundation. On Sept. 3, Segerstrom Daniels welcomed nearly 500 guests at the opening-night party held al fresco at South Coast Plaza’s Garden Terrace. Representatives from over 75 different children’s charities, all member organizations of the Festival of Children Foundation, came together to join local business leaders, community activists and politicians to mark the start of National Child Awareness Month.

The effort is not just another charitable connection for the influential Segerstrom Daniels. Rather, her focus on the needs of children has been a lifelong passion that she has turned into action, assisting countless youth in the community. Her heart is in the game. She says, “It is up to each and every one of us to work to make the world a better place for children.” In keeping with that sentiment, the 2014 festival theme is “One World.”

Each year, the foundation presents its FRED Award. FRED is an acronym “For Really Extraordinary ‘Do’ers.” The 2014 honors went to a 16-year-old high school student from Huntington Beach, Miles Saunders. When he was nine years of age, his mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Miles was forced to grow up very fast, taking on a caretaker’s role. Miles was recently named “Caregiver of the Year” by the Orange County Alzheimer’s Assn.

To learn more about the events planned for the rest of the month at South Coast Plaza, visit https://www.festivalofchildren.org.

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Monkey Magic in the air

The 22nd annual Zoofari billed as “Monkey Magic” unfolded Aug. 23 at the Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park. An overflow crowd of nearly 400 guests, donning either black tie or zoo-appropriate costume attire in keeping with the monkey theme, turned out for the enchanted evening under the Santa Ana stars. The social event has always been a highlight of the summer season party circuit, with dinner catered by Parties by Panache featuring the cocktail of the night created especially for Zoofari and labeled as “50 Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.”

The $250 per-patron price of admission purchased an evening of magic, music and dancing to the sounds of Groove Factory. Auctioneer Glen Fladeboe presented a lively offering, raising more than $54,000 for the zoo in both silent and live proceeds. Auction generosity raised the net total to over $80,000 in donations. This year’s successful event was produced by chair Cathi Decker with assistance from Friends of Santa Ana Zoo board member Debbie Newmeyer, underwriter Peggy Baldwin Butler, Kelly Bennett and much-admired PBS SoCal anchor and emcee of the evening Ed Arnold. Honored guests of the night were Knowlwood Restaurants owners Thanh Nguyen, Ginger Nguyen, Tana Everhart and Ginna Nguyen. The Nguyen family opened the Knowlwood Café at the zoo, offering healthy fresh food to zoo visitors and enhancing their experience at the park. Also honored was Scott Weldy, animal specialist and DVM. Weldy has been a volunteer at the Santa Ana Zoo for more than 20 years and became veterinarian of record at the zoo in 2002.

Part of the proceeds from the event will be used to purchase a special digital X-ray machine to improve the health of the animals at the park. Established in 1952, the Santa Ana Zoo is Orange County’s only AZA-accredited zoo and is home to more than 150 animals, including 50 incredible monkeys, all honored guests of the night. To learn more, go to https://www.santaanazoo.org.

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Let the shopping season begin

The Angelitos De Oro, a women’s auxiliary based in Newport Beach in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County is preparing to hold its 13th annual Angelitos Card fundraiser at South Coast Plaza. The shopping event will take place Oct. 8 through 14, with more than 110 boutiques and restaurants offering a 20% savings when the Angelitos Card is presented. The card is on sale now and may be purchased for $60 with funds earmarked in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Orange County High School Mentoring Program. To purchase the Angelitos Card, you may go online to https://www.angelitosdeoro.org prior to the event or visit any South Coast Plaza concierge desk during the event.

THE CROWD runs Fridays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.