Lobster lovers help raise $25,000 for charities at Newport festival

It turns out that people in Newport Beach love a good lobster.

More than 620 guests chowed down on 1,300 pounds of fresh Maine lobster at the sixth annual Lobsterfest on Sunday at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, event spokeswoman Marie Case said.

Proceeds from ticket sales and a raffle will help support Make-A-Wish of Orange County and the Inland Empire, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions; Leadership Tomorrow, a nonprofit that provides programs for the public to learn about their community; and New Directions for Women, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.

Lobsterfest Chairman Tim Brown said the event raised about $25,000, slightly more than last year. He said his organization sent a check for $5,000 to Make-A-Wish on Tuesday. Contributions to New Directions for Women and Leadership Tomorrow are to be determined, he said.

-- Emily Foxhall