Precious support for cancer foundation

An impressive $585,000 was raised at the Diamond and Pearl Ball on behalf of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation. The Orange County-based nonprofit organization -- which provides support for cancer victims and their families -- brought together 400 generous patrons at the Island Hotel, Newport Beach, under the gala chairmanship of Kirsten Prosser and Susan Franklin.

Founded in 1974 by Dr. Grant Beckstrand and a group of physicians dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients, the foundation has worked for more than 30 years providing financial assistance, counseling and other forms of help to cancer patients coping with survival needs. The Beckstrand Cancer Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of cancer victims during treatment, based on the belief that removing some of the stress from the day-to-day living during treatment improves the chances for recovery and survival.

Prior to the ball, event sponsor Bvlgari at South Coast Plaza hosted an in-store reception, welcoming some 100 underwriting patrons of Beckstrand Foundation as a thank you for their support. Bvlgari was the presenting sponsor of the Diamond and Pearl Ball, with Susan Franklin, Bvlgari’s general manager, serving as co-chair. And KABC-TV Channel 7’s entertainment reporter George Pennacchico served as emcee at the gala, which honored Dr. Neil Barth for his work with cancer patients. Barth is the founder and president of Newport Cancer Care Medical Associates, and he is also the chief of staff of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

Auctioneer Mark Schenfeld helped raise the financial tally, selling magnificent items generously contributed by local merchants. The centerpiece auction item of the night was fittingly a Bvlgari Lucea Collier diamond and pearl necklace, which sold for $24,000.

The Diamond and Pearl Ball was designed as an evening in Venice. Hotel waiters were dressed as gondoliers. Venetian-inspired acrobatic artists pranced through the ballroom.

Spotted in the crowd were Newport’s glamorous Jan Salta and husband Mike Salta. Also supporting the Beckstrand were Kelly and Duane Roberts, owners of the Mission Inn in Riverside; Holly and Dave Wilson; Marge and Jeff Lewis; and AJ and Joni D’Amato. Also front and center was Lil Spitzer, executive director of the Beckstrand Foundation.

“We are using the funds raised tonight to support our programs, including the flagship BCF Children’s Hospice Program,” Spitzer said. “We now have the seed money to begin this hospice program.”

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Parents and friends of Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach are in the final preparation stages for a major fall fundraiser set for Nov. 12. Sponsors are calling the upcoming party “Mariners Tiki Lounge at the Dunes.” Parents are hoping to raise $150,000 toward a goal of $250,000 in support of enrichment programs at the local elementary school. The evening will include dinner and dancing and fabulous auction opportunities all aimed at raising funds to improve local education. Attire for the evening is tiki chic. Erin Seabold, president of the Mariner’s Foundation, is working with Carrie Young, president of the Mariner’s PTA. Underwriting chairs for the event are two local dads, Tom Blanchfield and Steve Schwary. For more information and to purchase tickets, check www.marinersfoundation.com.

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Local celebrity restaurateur Randy Schoch welcomed a VIP crowd recently at his newly renamed and reinvented Asian bar and grill, Ling and Louie’s at the Irvine Spectrum. Formerly known as Thaifoon, the dining experience has been redesigned to feature a broader range of Asian cuisine bringing together tastes of a multitude of Eastern fares including Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Hawaiian fusion. The expanded concept is a potential winner. A full dining room of guests sampled a lavish serving of Schoch’s dishes including crispy crab wontons, black orchid ahi tuna, lettuce wraps, orange peel chicken, and the best pad Thai in Orange County. The first Thaifoon transformation has taken place at the Irvine Spectrum and will most likely be followed by a revamp of the Fashion Island eatery in the near future. Randy Schoch was named 2003 restaurateur of the year by the Orange County Business Journal, and also received high honors in 2004 with the hot concept award from Nation’s Restaurant News for the creation of the Thaifoon concept. Schoch, who splits his time between Newport, Scottsdale, Ariz.,Honolulu and Salt Lake City, is never one to rest on his past accomplishments, always striving to reinvent and recreate imaginative ways to delight his customers.

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The Angelitos Card becomes a shopper’s best friend today and may be used through Tuesday at more than 100 selected shops and restaurants at South Coast Plaza. The shopping card may be purchased for $50 at all South Coast Plaza concierge desks and will entitle the bearer to significant 20% discounts on merchandise for the holidays. The Angelitos Card is a major fundraising tool of Big Brothers Big Sisters Orange County and takes its name from the support group known as Angelitos de Oro, a 44-year-old charity foundation that began in 1961 and has raised and donated more than $3 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters Orange County. For more information, call (949) 642.9883 or visit www.angelitosdeoro.org.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.

Linda Hill and Kate Eastman representing Angelitos de Oro help launch the 2005 Angelitos holiday shopping card at South Coast Plaza. Frank and Shirley Iacona enjoy the Bvlgari in-store reception for underwriters of the Diamond and Pearl Ball in support of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation. Supporting the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation at the Bvlgari store at South Coast Plaza are Kathy Just and Bruce Wallace. 20051103ipcudokn(LA)Lil Spitzer, executive director of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, George Pennacchio, entertainment reporter for KABC-TV, party chairwomen Kristen Prosser and Susan Franklin enjoy an evening in Venice with an entertainer at the Diamond and Pearl Ball. 20051103gzf7uqke(LA)20051103ipcuddkn(LA)Linda Hill and Kate Eastman representing Angelitos de Oro help launch the 2005 Angelitos holiday shopping card at South Coast Plaza. 20051103ipcucxknNo Caption20051103ipcudxkn(LA)Lil Spitzer, executive director of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, George Pennacchio, entertainment reporter for KABC-TV, party chairwomen Kristen Prosser and Susan Franklin enjoy an evening in Venice with an entertainer at the Diamond and Pearl Ball.