BEHIND THE HEADLINES:JAKE ROHRER, GENERAL FUND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

As the director of general fund development for the Hoag Hospital Foundation, longtime Newport Beach resident and businessman Jake Rohrer has taken the lead for the First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta. The regatta, a collaboration among First Team Real Estate, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Balboa Yacht Club and Hoag Hospital Foundation, pits the fastest, most expensive sailboats in the world in a three-day race, the proceeds of which benefit Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. Rohrer, who is not a sailor but who has been a master fundraiser for the hospital for the past 25 years, largely with the Toshiba golf tournament, answered a few questions about the event.

Question: How much has the regatta done for Hoag Hospital?

Answer: It’s done two or three different things. It raises funds for the heart and vascular institute: $260,000 in 2005, and this year the target is $400,000. Just as importantly, it reaches a segment of the community that we didn’t have an event for. The regatta reaches out to the boating community in Newport Beach. It connects with people who didn’t have a relationship with the hospital. It raises visibility for the hospital in a classy and well-executed way. We’re proud to be involved in events like this.

Q: For years you helped run the Toshiba golf tournament. How does this compare to that?

A: There are a couple of similarities and one very big difference. The similarity is there are lots of moving parts like Toshiba. There are world-class and very active sponsors involved. There are lots of volunteers involved. Overall, it’s not as complex as the Toshiba, but the Toshiba takes place all in one location, and it’s a little easier to wrap your arms around. This one doesn’t. This one is spread all over Newport Beach and the adjoining waters.

Q: How has the regatta taken hold in the local sailing community?

A: Based on the enthusiasm of the people I see, it clearly has taken hold. It’s viewed as a very important West coast sailing event. Even beyond that, we have people here from (a television crew), and they were talking about how people on the East coast were talking about this event. It’s taken hold for sure. It has to do with so many big boats all in one place. That’s unusual. And the fact that the boats are buoy racing versus distant racing. That’s unique, too. And the final thing is this regatta raises a whole lot of money, when that’s not the norm in the yacht-racing world. It parallels Toshiba in that way.

Q: In your estimation, how much does it help the local economy?

A: There’s clearly some impact as to the visibility and the image of Newport Beach, but unlike the Toshiba we don’t sell a lot of hotel rooms and restaurant meals. It’s more about the positive image and that the boating community gets involved in it.

Q: Finally, who do you think will win?

A: I don’t know, but it would be delightful if Jim Madden, our chairman, and his boat Stark Raving Mad III won because of all the hard work and leadership he has provided to the event.