Sound of Music chapter turns 25

B.W. COOK

The Sound of Music Chapter of the Guilds of the Orange County

Performing Arts Center launched its 25th anniversary season with a

champagne reception and luncheon at Shady Canyon Golf and Country

Club. In the majestic Shady Canyon setting, some 80 Sound of Music

patronesses, most from the Newport-Mesa community, arrived in their

late summer best ... a vibrant showing of pink, the color of the

year. Co-chairs Kelly Hague and Eve Kornyei welcomed the crush,

including SOM officers Shawn Cunningham, Beth Hart, Danni Good, Tracy

Martin, Kimberly Feinberg, Pamela Lowry, Harriet Sandhu, Diane Cruzon

and Robin Newton-Iacono.

This was one luncheon where the ladies put their money on the

table. Within a few minutes following introductions and a request

from underwriting chairs for donations for the big SOM gala in the

planning stages for next year, nearly $50,000 was raised bringing the

underwriting tally to $83,000 to date. Michael Halpern, attending the

luncheon, representing the Center, was impressed. The theme for next

year’s SOM gala will be “License to Thrill, Austin Powers Meets James

Bond.”

SHARING SOULS

The Share Our Selves A-Team gathered for an early Thanksgiving

“fondue feast” recently at the Melting Pot Restaurant, Irvine. The

A-Team, an auxiliary of SOS, the Costa Mesa-based agency for the

working poor and homeless citizens of our community celebrated the

ninth annual Sharing Chefs dinner under the gracious generosity of

Mira Selbo, owner of the Melting Pot. Established by Newport’s Kathy

Thompson in 1993, the SOS A-Team has sponsored many Sharing Chefs

dinners in conjunction with local restaurants to raise funds and

awareness for SOS.

MARCH OF DIMES

Jean Macino, Bayshores resident and member of the Board of

Directors for Orange County March of Dimes helped to organize another

major “star” chefs event for charity. Twenty-four culinary experts

from all over Southern California converged upon the St. Regis

Monarch Beach Resort & Spa to benefit the O.C. March of Dimes.

Executive chef Azmin Ghahreman of the St. Regis led the charge of

amazing food experts involved. It was the second annual March of

Dimes Star Chefs of Orange County fundraiser and cooking demo. Macino

reports that the event attracted a sold out crowd paying $250 per

ticket, with funds raised going toward a goal of reaching $135,000 in

contributions to assist March of Dimes programs to improve the health

of O.C. infants. On hand for the event were Jennifer L. Howse, March

of Dimes President, Jamie Haver, Jill Jameson , Heidi Jung, Sarah

Kiani and Barry Porter.

SUPPORTING ARTS

From dining to bridge, the South Pacific Chapter of the Guilds

supporting the Orange County Performing Arts Center met at Santa Ana

Country Club to inaugurate new officers, make plans for the 2003-04

season, and play a few hands. Alice Rosellini was introduced as the

new South Pacific president, with Amelia Willinger in the position of

recent past president of the organization. The ladies are once again

planning a major bridge-luncheon fund-raiser to benefit The Center.

Wanda Evans, Louise Schwennesen and Chris Winton will chair the

benefit. Jeanette Shammas announced that the group had recently

donated $26,500 in proceeds to the Center from their bridge

fundraisers during 2002-03.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.