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  • Adrian Young, Neda Eaton, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal

    Adrian Young, Neda Eaton, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal

  • Dennis Kuhl, Michelle Hatch

    Dennis Kuhl, Michelle Hatch

  • Emile Haddad, Dina Haddad

    Emile Haddad, Dina Haddad

  • Harmony Hager, Christin Samura

    Harmony Hager, Christin Samura

  • Joseph Lewis, Chancellor Howard Gillman, Emile Haddad

    Joseph Lewis, Chancellor Howard Gillman, Emile Haddad

  • The Brevet

    The Brevet

  • Tom Dumont, Neda Eaton

    Tom Dumont, Neda Eaton

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Dressed in black tie, 350 supporters of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation filled KIA Motors headquarters for the sixth annual Spirit of Excellence gala, which raised more than $425,000.

Following a red carpet arrival, cocktail reception and silent auction, partygoers followed the sounds of live entertainment to take their seats for the evening’s program. Tom Dumont, the No Doubt guitarist who graduated from Woodbridge High in 1986, was recognized with the Spirit of Excellence in Music award. Two other No Doubt members, Tony Kanal and Adrian Young, surprised Dumont by presenting him with the award.

In turn, Dumont presented the band Brevet, which performed at the gala, with the Rising Star Award. Justin Chen, a 2001 Irvine High School graduate, earned the Spirit of Excellence in the Arts. UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman accepted the Visionary Award for the university.
“These remarkable individuals represent the best of what Irvine schools have to offer through true world-class education,” said the foundation’s president and CEO, Neda Eaton.

FivePoint Communities was the presenting sponsor for the sixth consecutive year, and Emile Haddad and his wife, Dina, served as event chairs.