Rock show to benefit children’s hospital

FOR THE RECORD:

In the below article, Jeffrey John Bitetti and the Jeffrey John Band were incorrectly identified.

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Mary Lynn Gaddis bargained with God.

Gaddis spent 13 sleepless nights at Children’s Hospital of Orange County in August 2004, watching her 18-month-old daughter, Zoey, fight for her life.

She had lots of time to think, she said, and no matter who your God might be, in that situation, you bargain. She prayed, asked and promised. “If I ever leave here, I’m going to come back and make a difference.” Zoey, now 4, went home with her family.

After volunteering at CHOC for several months, Gaddis looked for a bigger and better way to bring awareness to the community about the only children’s hospital in Orange County.

Gaddis had never organized a fundraiser before, but knew she wanted the main event to be a concert.

That effort blossomed into the first “Rock for CHOC” fundraiser, a fun, musical evening that raised $130,000 for the CHOC Foundation last year.

This year’s event will again feature a performance by HONK, the local rock ‘n’ roll band from the ‘70s featured in the surf movie “Five Summer Stories.”

Opening for them — unplugged — will be guitarists John Jeffrey Bitetti, a local entrepreneur, and Rickey Lewis.

The guys are part of the John Jeffrey Band, which first opened for HONK in 1992 at the Coach House and shared billing with them last year as well.

“HONK was one of the most influential bands in my life as a kid, and opening for them 15 years ago was so killer,” Bitetti said.

Bitetti grew up in Newport Beach, held the quarterback sack record at Newport Harbor High School and paid for his USC education performing with his band in Westwood and at The Cannery in Newport on weekends.

The surf-themed “Rock for CHOC” event will begin with a cocktail reception and buffet dinner.

With money raised last year, the foundation was able to treat kids spending Christmas in the hospital to a visit by Santa Claus.

Fred Rinter donned the red velvet suit and will not only visit the hospital again this year, but will make an appearance at tonight’s event.

Guest speaker Dr. Anthony Chang, director of CHOC’s Pediatric Heart Institute, will present information on the hospital’s new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Gaddis turned something negative into a positive, she said, focusing on something as small as the technology involved with Zoey’s heart monitors.

“Children’s Hospital is a very good thing to be a part of,” Gaddis said, while Bitetti made sure to add that “Rock for CHOC is a rock ‘n’ roll fun time,” offering everyone an opportunity to get involved and make a difference.

“We’re walking arm-in-arm in this thing called life.”

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].