THE CROWD:Charity ball raises record-breaking amount

One of the most important charity balls of the summer unfolded with great style and even greater purpose at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa. The 23rd annual Cystic Fibrosis gala raised a record-breaking $440,000 for research and a cure for the insidious disease that steals the breath of children and young adults. Sue Hook, superdedicated gala chair, who with husband Dave Hook has championed the search for a cure in this community as well as on a national basis, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have raised a record breaking amount of money this year. It is my passion to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis.” Few individuals on the charity platform in Newport are as focused on the cause as Hook. She welcomed Stacy Motenko, 19, who is living with the disease. Motenko told the dinner audience how difficult her past year has been. Hospitalized with pneumonia, Motenko was forced to drop out of her classes at UCSB in her last quarter of the school year. She plans to return and continue her fight.

Supporting Hook were Karen Hall, Charlene Coetz, Debbie Hambright, Dean Gerrie, Cindy Gotoski, Mary Zollman, Gail Isen, and Paul Motenko, chapter president of the Orange County Cystic Fibrosis Guild.

Major sponsorships for the evening came from Pat Hitchcock O’Connell; John and Donna Crean; Heidi Goetz, Barry and Myra Ross; Jeff and Mary Campbell; Myron and Carol Kanofsky; Michael and Lory Sarlo; Mike and Mary Zollman; and Dave and Sue Hook, to name only a few. Shawn Parr, radio deejay from 93.9 KZLA, once again handled the emcee duties with enthusiasm and personality.

Spotted in the crowd were Scott and Taryn Davidson; Ron and Katie Bronicki; Ken and Teri Bassman; Dan and Danni Good; Ron and Pat Harris; Cam Hunter; Theo Horton; Ross and Marla Meredith; Jerry and Joan Mack; and Bob and Carolyn Waltos. Bob Waltos has also taken on cystic fibrosis as his charitable passion. He has dedicated personal and business resources and connections to making a difference for those fighting the disease. With people like Hook, Waltos and all of the local residents who helped raise a record $440,000 for the fight involved, hope may one day be replaced with a cure.