B.W. COOK
Orange County activist Julie David, founder and chief executive of A
Charity For Charities, produced a two-night holiday celebration she
is calling Holidazzle.
The Hyatt Newporter was the setting for the Dec. 10 and 11
fundraiser held on behalf of two Orange County nonprofits --
Childhelp USA and the Special Olympics.
David's purpose is to bring together people of diverse religious
backgrounds and traditions to share their distinct culture and to
find some common ground. Therein lies the important link. Common
ground. At holiday time, or any time, we need to seek common values
that unite rather than divide. A most simple message, more crucial
than ever.
David enlisted showman John Vaughan, responsible for directing the
successful CHOC follies for many years under Gloria Zigner. Vaughan
assembled a holiday show filled with variations on the theme of
celebration. Life-sized dancing snowmen mixed with traditional Hebrew
dancers. The telling of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" was, of
course, a favorite.
All this was built around a three-course dinner served by the
Hyatt, with plenty of mingling. Nearly 500 guests supported
Holidazzle over the two-night run, an impressive turnout for a
start-up function.
In the crowd were Jacque DuPont Baum and David Baum, Betty Belden
Palmer, Judy and Terry Jones, Jean and Bob Campbell, Alana and George
Hedley, and Nella Webster and Kevin O'Grady. Also supporting David
and Holidazzle were Patti and Jim Edwards, Eileen and Rich Saul,
Heidi and Doug Shurtleff, Jodi and Vince Ferragamo, Norma and Paul
Fruchbom and Sandra and Barry Silverman.
Funds raised will benefit local Special Olympics programs,
offering sports training in 20 Olympics-type sporting events for
children and adults. Also benefiting will be Childhelp USA,
supporting Beaumont Village, a residential treatment center for
abused and neglected children.
For more information on A Charity For Charities, please log on to
http://www.acharityforcharities.org or call (949) 361-6563.
