Celebrating ’25 Years of Volunteerism’

The St. John Boutique and South Coast Plaza will join forces on April

23 for “25 Years of Volunteerism,” a fashion show and luncheon

presented by the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center.

The dynamic Patrice Poidmore reports that the event will honor

more than two decades of guild chairmen emeriti, who have raised

millions of dollars to support the arts organization, which is funded

through community and corporate support.

The event will begin with a reception at 11 a.m. at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel, Irvine. It promises to reunite people involved in

nearly three decades of community work that has created lifelong

friendships.

After the fashion extravaganza, the St. John Boutique at South

Coast Plaza will hold a post-show champagne reception from 3 to 5

p.m. for those patrons wishing to get a closer look at the fashion

presentation. Ten percent of sales from the afternoon champagne

reception will be donated to the Guilds of the Center.

Luncheon reservations are $125 per person. Please call Bev

Sandelman at (714) 921-2662 to reserve your spot.

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Sally Coomb is dedicated to producing a spectacular event for the

ninth annual Ocean Institute golf classic, dinner gala and auction.

The party is set for Sunday, April 27, at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna

Niguel.

After a day of golf, sunset cocktails will accompany a silent

auction followed by the dinner program and live auction beginning at

7:30 p.m.

The Ocean Institute has been valuable in protecting and preserving

the rare natural beauty of the Southern California Riviera and the

sea life, Coomb said.

Tickets to the gala may be reserved at $175 per person. For

information on the golf classic and the party, please call Megan

Robinson at (949) 496-2274, ext. 413.

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The canals of Venice converged with the tributaries of Costa Mesa

as the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County held “April in Venice” at

the Sutton Place Hotel, Newport Beach last weekend.

The elegant affair raised more than $100,000 to support the free

services of the local Alzheimer’s Assn. The black tie Italian-themed

evening, chaired by two very prominent and hard working local women,

Electa Anderson and Julie David, attracted more than 300 guests.

Electa Anderson knows just how difficult Alzheimer’s can be. She

and her husband, Norm, who is only 60 years old, have been fighting

Alzheimer’s for several years. Norm Anderson was diagnosed with the

disease in his 50s, which is considered very young to develop

Alzheimer’s.

“We cannot imagine how difficult our personal world would be

without the support of the Alzheimer’s Assn.,” Electra Anderson said.

“The association prepares individuals and families who will face the

emotional, medical, financial and social consequences of this most

insidious disease.”

The evening was further enhanced by the presence of honorary chair

Suzy Melin and her family and friends, who had come to support the

affair in memory of her late husband, Arthur “Spud” Melin, creator of

the Hula Hoop and the Frisbee.

Arthur Melin, founder of the toy company Wham-O, passed away last

year from complications of Alzheimer’s, after a decades-long decline.

As a gesture, Hula Hoops and Frisbees where distributed to the

black-tie crowd at the Sutton Place valet station at the end of the

evening.

Women in beaded gowns could not resist the temptation to swing

their florescent hoops on their hips as they waited for their cars to

arrive.

More than one gentleman also stood in harm’s way, throwing the

Frisbee through the porte-cochere and narrowly missing any number of

expensive cars and dodging drivers.

Supporting the Alzheimer’s evening were Costa Mesa’s Malcolm Dick,

Jim Grant of Newport Beach, Carolyn Harkin, Karen Johnson, Darrelyn

and David Melilli, Rosaline and Paul Wexler and Barbara Sted.

Ed Arnold handled the master of ceremonies duties with style.

Corporate support came from drug giant Pfizer and local hospital

Hoag Memorial Presbyterian.

For more information on Alzheimer’s services, please call the

24-hour help line at (800) 660-1993.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.