THE CROWD:

The sixth annual Habitat for Humanity of Orange County gala unfolded recently at the Island Hotel, Newport Beach. More than 200 guests attended the black-tie evening, raising $122,000 benefiting Habitat for Humanity’s goal to end substandard housing in Orange County. They provide employed low-income families with an opportunity to participate in home ownership.

The sixth annual event actually marked 21 years of Habitat’s service to the Orange County community. Chaired by Mollie Hunter, the party began with a cocktail and hors d’ oeuvres reception at the Island Hotel followed by dinner, dancing and an auction. Hunter and her committee labeled the evening as “Doorways To The Future.”

Major sponsorship this year came from Greenberg Traurig LLP, Financial Asset Services Inc., Brown-Forman and Bank of the West Wealth Management. Also supporting the goals of Habitat were Joe and Lynda Perring, Sharon Ellis, Brett and Kathy Mansfield, Jim and Carol Light and Hugo Nuno.

The annual awards were presented during the evening, including the Dream Award, which went to the KGYT Group Inc. The Faith Award was presented to Rock Harbor Church. The Humanity Award went to Beth Phillips. The Vision Award was received by the Orange County Assn. of Realtors and finally The Habitat Family Award was accepted by the Jose Lujano family.

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, which is headquartered in Santa Ana, builds quality homes for low-income families requiring only a 1% down payment, closing costs and offering a zero-interest mortgage loan. The mortgage payments are then recycled to build additional homes for other families. Those people receiving a Habitat home are required to contribute at least 500 hours of “sweat equity” either working on the building of their own home or perhaps helping another Habitat family build another home, or assisting Habitat for Humanity in some fashion. Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County has built 130 homes and they are working on eight homes in San Juan Capistrano and three homes in Yorba Linda.

The live auction was conducted by Russ Stolnack. Spotted in the crowd were Brett Mansfield, chairman of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Dave Albert, Kevin Cloyd, Jeff Dickerson, Mark Hoover, Jim Light, and Mark Rogers, among many dedicated Habitat board members. For more information on Habitat for Humanity contact Joan Ziegler at (714) 434-6200, ext. 222 or [email protected].

Several weeks ago a theatrical troupe made up mostly of amateurs took to the stage at the Robert Moore Theatre at OCC to present yet another season of the CHOC Follies benefiting Children’s Hospital of Orange County. By the end of the three-day run the singers and dancers, who told the tongue-and-cheek story of an Orange County “princess” changing her ways and trading in her gas-guzzling- Coast-Highway-rambling roadster for a Prius in order to save the world environment raked, in an astounding $575,000 in proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospital of Orange County and CHOC at Mission.

Executive producer Gloria Zigner breathed a sigh of relief fully aware that in these challenging times charitable donations are definitely down. But they managed to pull it off in superior fashion yet again. In spite of the current recession, Orange County citizens are committed to the vital importance of taking care of the health of children in need. No suffering child is turned away from CHOC regardless of a family’s ability to pay for treatment.

On a sad note, community activist Jim Warsaw passed away Wednesday. Warsaw’s funeral will take place at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach followed by a graveside service at Pacific View Memorial Park. Jim leaves behind his wife, Ellyne, and sons Bryan, Zakary, and Kyle.

Growing up in Beverly Hills and graduating from Beverly Hills High School and then attending the University of Oregon at Eugene, Warsaw entered the then-fledgling field of sports marketing under the auspices of his late father David Warsaw recognized as a pioneer in the field. His business and personal success were catalysts to unwavering community involvement and support of myriad causes helping others less fortunate.

Suffering from Parkinson’s disease himself, Jim rallied national attention for more than two decades to promote research to find a cure for the disease that affected millions of Americans. In addition he was front and center for UCI’s Brain Imaging Center.

Perhaps closest to his heart was his association with his alma mater through the creation of the Warsaw School of Sports Management and its graduate degree programs.

Jim will be missed by countless friends and family members.

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