One child making a lasting difference

Newport’s Deirdre Egan Healy reports that Kids Konnected will present

its fourth annual founder’s event on Aug. 9 at the Village Crean on

the Back Bay.

Founded in 1993 by then 11-year old Jon Wagner-Holtz, Kids

Konnected is all about kids helping kids when parents are afflicted

with life-threatening diseases or life-changing experiences.

Wagner-Holtz had a mother suffering from breast cancer. Through

the helpline, which now functions 24 hours each day, Wagner-Holtz

shared his “fear, confusion and sadness with other kids going through

the same hard times,” shares Deirdre Egan Healy, a member of the

helpline founder’s committee.

Today, one 11-year-old’s vision has grown to serve thousands of

families throughout the United States. The Kids Konnected program now

includes monthly support group meetings, youth leadership seminars,

summer camps, bereavement workshops, socials and much more.

To celebrate the strides made, the local crowd is invited to

participate at the Village Crean as organizers throw a summer bash in

the “Spirit of Aloha.” The Hawaiian evening will be catered “luau

style” by Outback Steakhouse. A live auction will add to the

fund-raiser. Tickets are $125 per person. Call (949) 582-5443 for

reservations and information.

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Top local restaurants joined forces to help local families finding

themselves homeless. Friends of the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter,

known as FOCIS, participated in what was called Focis on Dining, a

local gourmet dinner series, which raised $59,000 for the charity.

Gustau Anders, Five Crowns, Pascal, the Pacific Club and French 75

made certain that the 11th annual event was a sell-out.

Chaired by FOCIS board members Myra Wiener and Sally Phillips,

with assistance from Linda Oeth and FOCIS President Judy Cooper, the

funds raised will help support the group’s programs, which provide

more than 80,000 meals to 1,000 homeless people.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.