'Iron Chef' Mario Batali, Tiger Woods and Willy the Giraffe

And learn more about Saint Joseph Ballet's success.

Photo By Michael Munson Kirsten Prosser, Taylor Carol and Jan Salta with Willy, the giraffe

The Maybachs were parked out front of the fashion tent on the grounds of the Island Hotel in Newport Beach for the Harvesters 16th Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon in support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Following a top-drawer runway fashion presentation, underwritten by South Coast Plaza and featuring 12 of its luxury retailers, the 380 guests gathered in Palm Garden for lunch, where they were greeted by models in eye-catching Cartier jewels and a room billowing in white chiffon with whimsical pale pink-ribboned chiffon chair covers. The effort, headed by event chair Suzan Paek, co-chairs Jennifer Condas and Connie Dinsmore and fashion show coordinator and South Coast Plaza Community Relations Director Kathryn Glassmyer, was a huge success with $500,000 in net proceeds raised for the food bank’s 30 Kids Cafes, which provide food for children in safe, after-school programs, as well as a Brown Bag groceries program for low-income seniors. The event favor, Cartier’s orchid-themed stationery, brought smiles all-round.

Beckstrand Cancer Foundation’s Diamond and Pearl Ball, this year themed An Evening in Africa, was greatly enhanced by a lovable giraffe named Willy, who greeted the 350 guests on the patio of the Balboa Bay Club and Resort. Jan Salta and Kirsten Prosser chaired the fundraiser, which honored Taylor Carol, a 13-year-old cancer survivor whose life was saved when Beckstrand found a bone marrow donor. Carol sang Sarah McLachlan’s “Ordinary People,” accompanied on piano by award-winning composer Matt Messina, after which, in a surprise move, Carol was introduced to his bone marrow donor, Ralf Jungbluth, who flew in from Germany for the occasion. Carol and the crowd went wild. Over-the-top bids in the live auction, along with a successful $100,000 challenge by board member George O’Connell, helped boost net proceeds to more than $1.1 million. Neiman Marcus and Van Cleef & Arpels at Fashion Island were presenting sponsors, with Jay Strongwater jeweled and enameled picture frames the event favor, thanks to Neiman Marcus.

Photo By Peggy O'Donnell Chef Mario Batali, Tiger Woods

The Food Network’s favorite “Iron Chef” Mario Batali was the perfect chef to design the menu and orchestrate the dinner for Tiger Woods’ fourth annual Block Party at The Grove of Anaheim. Batali, himself an avid golfer, created six tasty golf-themed hors d’oeuvres for the occasion – I loved the “Hole in One” with new potato halves stuffed with peas and pesto. Hosted by Woods, the 700-guest benefit for the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim netted $700,000 for the cause and recognized philanthropist Paul Folino as Champion Honoree. The live auction, filled with golf packages to the U.S. Open, British Open and the Masters, as well as a putting lesson with Tiger and an opportunity to play in the Pro-Am, proved enticing. For the “foodies,” however, the Batali package with dinners on both coasts at the superstar chef’s restaurants and first-class American Airlines airfare was the ticket. Grammy Award winner Seal brought down the house with his performance. And, yes, a very understated Heidi Klum was there in skinny jeans, sparkly top, tuxedo-style jacket, and stilettos.

"I’m strong because I go to Girls Incorporated, and I am learning how to make good choices,” said five-year-old Eden Campbell, in opening the nonprofit’s annual Strong, Smart and Bold celebration at the Island Hotel in late October. Many other Girls, Inc. girls joined Campbell in receiving rousing applause in response to their inspiring testimonials at the 400-guest event, which honored board member Marta Bhathal for a decade of leadership, service and support. Eight-year board President Elaine Levin was personally acknowledged for her heartfelt leadership, and art consultant, author and teacher Barbara Guggenheim, the evening’s keynote speaker, advised, “Take time to look at art and be inspired by it. It will make you a better, smarter person.” Event co-chairs Gianna and Dee Kerrison and their committee were pleased with $300,000 net proceeds, and guests were delighted with the Jay Strongwater picture frames, courtesy of Presenting Sponsor Neiman Marcus of Fashion Island.

Mega-kudos to Saint Joseph Ballet! For the past 25 years, approximately 62,000 Orange County youth have been positively impacted by the vision of Saint Joseph Ballet founder Beth Burns and, more recently, Burns’ successor Melanie Rios Glaser. Having watched this amazing effort the last 18 years to empower low-income youth from diverse neighborhoods to strengthen their self-esteem, self-discipline and sense of accomplishment through dance, academic and family programs, I have been humbled and inspired by the experience. In the past decade, nearly 100% of Saint Joseph Ballet’s students have gone on to college, which speaks to the organization’s success. In tribute to that success, the fundraiser, Now. Then. Anew., was held at the Santa Ana facility, where Burns’ moving speech chronicled the roots of the organization, which led to an in-depth video documentary of the SJB’s stunning 25-year track record. Rios Glaser, SJB’s executive and artistic director, introduced the powerful student performance, “What Is Too Strong for Breaking,” choreographed by internationally recognized Mark Haim. The 174-guest benefit netted $240,000 for the nationally recognized nonprofit.