THE CROWD:

The ninth annual Arts Orange County Awards were presented recently at The Balboa Bay Club and Resort. Organizers labeled the culture-fest “Creative Possibilities.” The big honors went to John John Koshak, music director and conductor of the Orange County Youth Symphony, Greg MacGillivray, film director and documentarian, and Newport’s Phil and Mary Lions, cultural benefactors of the Pacific Symphony, the Pacific Chorale and other arts organizations in the community. More than 400 guests gathered for the dinner ceremony presided over by Arts Orange County President Darrel Anderson, escorting his wife, Marsha. The occasion also marked the retirement of founding executive director Bonnie Brittain Hall and the appointment of Richard Stein to the new position of executive director. The crowd gave an emotional standing ovation to Hall for her 15 years of service to Arts Orange County.

Hosted by Andrew Barnicle, artistic director for the Laguna Playhouse, and Ann Pulice, co-host of KOCE’s television program “Real Orange,” the evening featured an impressive dinner performance that included music and dance numbers from some of the region’s most talented young artisans.

Sponsored in large part by the Boeing Company and First American Corporation, the event was also made possible by the generosity of Phil and Mary Lyons, the Argyros Foundation, the Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund, and Haskell and White LLP. Other donors spotted in the crowd included Newport’s Pat and Carl Neisser, James and Catherine Emmi, Janice Johnson, Dean and Caly Corey, Roger and Lisa Faubel, Sharon McNalley, Bill and Bobbitt Williams, Keith and Judith Swayne, Tom and Suzy Casey, Elizabeth and John Stahr, and Newport Beach Mayor Ed Selich.

Friends of Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter are finalizing details for their anticipated series of gourmet dinners that are being sponsored to raise funds for homeless families in the county. The 2008-09 series of five dinners marks the 17th annual gourmet dining event beginning Oct. 27 and running through April 27. Guests will be entertained at five outstanding restaurants in Orange County enjoying four-course dinners with wine parings. Included in the lineup are Kimera, Marche Moderne, Five Crowns, Mozambique and Tradition by Pascal. The dinner series this year will be chaired by Judy Cooper, who shares that underwriter subscriptions to all five experiences begin at $850 per person. For more info on the series, call (949) 240-4029.

The wild and crazy Roosters Foundation is set to present the 14th annual Monte Carlo Night being called “Imagine What We Can Do.” The evening is set for Nov. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Entertainment for the party features ROCKOLA, transporting guests to the 1960s with the British rock ‘n’ roll invasion of America, including music from the Beatles, Rolling Stones and more. This year’s honorary chairs include Reps. John Campbell, Dana Rohrabacher, and Loretta Sanchez. Proceeds of the benefit will be shared by seven Orange County children’s charities. Final details of the party are being planned by hardworking Roosters in charge of the 2008 Monte Carlo party Tim Reeves, Jeff Scheibner and John Trapani. For more information or ticket information please call (949) 706-7613 or go to www.Roosters.org.

It was a big night for the YMCA of Orange County. The “Reach Out Awards,” named for original sponsoring donors John and Donna Crean, raised more than $190,000 at the recent evening taking place at the Costa Mesa Hilton. Attendance records were broken with some 330 citizens supporting the YMCA event and raising an impressive sum while honoring individuals and organizations that have “reached out” to help less fortunate children and families in Orange County. Honored guests included Frank Scott, board chairman of the RC Baker Foundation, Kristen Thompson, executive director of Orange County Community Services for the YMCA, Jeff McBride, chief executive of YMCA Orange County, Brad Parton, YMCA board member, and Marge Hearn, widow of legendary sports announcer Chick Hearn, who has created an endowment at the YMCA in her late husband’s name. The evening was chaired by Janice Saenz with support from a dedicated group of local volunteers.

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