The Crowd: Season comes alive with MenAlive
MenAlive, Orange County’s 100-member gay men’s chorus, welcomed the holiday season with an old-fashioned Christmas musical celebration last week at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
The program was a retro journey back to the 1950s, paying homage to the television holiday musical of that era. Entertainers included basso profundo Carver Cossey and special guest host Momma, co-founder of the Fruitcake Follies. Bob Gunn served as artistic director for the show and joined MenAlive President James Vaughn in welcoming the community.
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Thanksgiving for man’s best friend
German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County welcomed 50 homeless German Shepherd pooches for home-cooked Thanksgiving doggy dinners provided by volunteer animal activists in the O.C.
Organizers called it The Great K-9 Steak-out, since the dogs were fed steak dinners at the outdoor event held at the Country Care Pet Resort in Yorba Linda. The Early Bird Café in Fullerton pre-cooked the steaks, which were donated by Sun Meat Co. of Placentia.
The 50 dogs, ranging in age from 6 months to 9 years, enjoyed the steak, which was accompanied by sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, green beans and an individual bowl of water. VIP German Shepherds in the crowd included “Stevie Wonder,” “Rebel,” “Friday” and “Zyanna.”
To learn more about the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, visit https://www.gsroc.org. The organization is on track to place more than 400 German Shepherds with families in Orange County this year.
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Art out of Africa in Costa Mesa
Frame My Art Studio in Costa Mesa welcomed an organization called Cradle to Career in Kenya for an art show.
Sales from the Nov. 14 show, which featured works inspired by African wildlife, were to benefit charitable programs in Africa and provide lifesaving services for children in desperate need.
The free event attracted a cross section of Orange County citizenry, who were greeted by an African drum circle, encouraging some of the guests to break out in dance. The crowd enjoyed food and wine inspired by Kenyan traditional recipes.
Organizer Jene Cates Meece thanked the community for “paying it forward” and making donations at the event’s Wall of Affordable Giving. For more information on Cradle to Career in Kenya, visit https://www.c2cKenya.org.
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Providing the blessing of hearing
Providence Speech and Hearing Center held its 49th annual Come Fly With Providence benefit.
The Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana hosted the event Nov. 15, attracting a sold-out crowd and raising more than $300,000 for the organization. The primary beneficiary of funding will be the Cochlear Implant Project at Providence. CEO Linda Smith praised donors and sponsors, including Citizens Business Bank, Comerica Bank and Hoag Hospital for their support.
Special thanks was also offered to the Los Angeles Times, the Thomas and Misako Yuen Family Foundation, Oticon, Stradling, and the Word & Brown Cos. The co-chairs for the party were Joan May, Robbie Nicoll and Jo-E Immel. Suzanne’s Catering provided a major spread for the more than 300 guests, and entertainment was courtesy of Frank and Dino and the Cadillac Quartet.
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Supporting the society at holiday time
The O.C.’s Barons League held its 16th annual Barons Ball, raising $150,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The recent event held at the Hilton in Costa Mesa took on a ‘70s disco theme, with “Staying Alive” décor orchestrated by Mark Bullock. Barons League President Margo Farris joined underwriting chair Weikko Wirta in producing a spirited event, which offered a memorial tribute to long-time Barons League member Nancy Johnston. It was delivered by her husband, Bob Johnston, inspiring the crowd and reminding them of the reason they had come together to fight cancer.
The gala was chaired by Jeanie Gibson and Jacki Wirta, with major support from Lonnie and Patrick Anderson, Maryann and Ken Anderson, Ruth and Tony Bedi, Kay and Jim Burra, Virginia and Frank Buccella, Nella and Kevin O’Grady and Carol and Kent Wilken, to name only a few.
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Relief to Cabo San Lucas
Corona del Mar-based nutritionist and fitness coach Allison Suter, with the help of a very few close friends and associates, rallied the community for a late-afternoon cocktail reception and silent auction at the English garden patio of the legendary restaurant Five Crowns in Corona del Mar.
Suter reports that the auction raised $13,000 for Cabo San Lucas relief. No net operating costs were incurred because everything was either underwritten or donated.
The fundraiser was inspired by the experience of Suter’s close friend Keri Wilson, whose grandmother Shirley was trapped in a Cabo hospital in darkness following Hurricane Odile, which hit in September and devastated the town. Funds raised will be used to buy mattresses, water filtration systems and home repairs for those in need. Major underwriters of the event included Studio Cycle Corona del Mar, Five Crowns and Orange Coast Winery.
THE CROWD runs Fridays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
