It was one of the most enchanting parties of the social season. Organizers created a magical, supernatural world of color and composition, where acrobatic models swung from the rafters, floated in giant plastic bubbles and draped themselves around pillars like human pretzels.
The Children's Hospital of Orange County Cherishes Children Gala Saturday evening at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach raised an impressive $606,000 for CHOC. The funds are earmarked for Change CHOC, Change the World, a campaign launched in 2010 to finance the future of CHOC as a sustainable world-class institution. Toward that end, CHOC is building a state-of-the-art facility, set to open in 2013. Along with the building campaign, a major endowment fund has been created as well as an association established with the UC Irvine School of Medicine focusing on both academic and research aspects of pediatric care.
The success of the recent gala dinner fundraiser was due to the efforts of Chairwoman Lori Hirth and her committee including Christine Bren, Kristina Dodge, Monica Furman, Kathryn Glassmyer, Heather Madden, and Marsha Willis and David Willis. The spectacular party was produced by Patrice Poidmore, a member of the CHOC foundation staff. She called on the talents of Floral Creations by Enzo, Shine Lighting, Karla Ross Productions, and a band called TC Traffic Jamm to put together a party that was sold out with some 300 devoted CHOC guests in attendance.
