THE SHEA CENTER GALA Montage Laguna Beach served as the elegant setting for the J . F . Shea Therapeutic Riding Center ’ s annual gala on June 25 . Attended by 400 supporters , the black tie-optional event featured a cocktail hour on the Pacific Lawn with a roaming magician , Pixster 360 photo booth and popular wine wall with tastings from Trinitas Cellars . The event also included both silent and live auctions with packages like a six-day Paris vacation , a two-night stay at the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano , and a chef-curated , five-course dinner with vintage wine pairings at Las Brisas . Once inside the Grand Ballroom , guests enjoyed live music and entertainment by Bonnie Foster Productions after dinner and a program that included presentation of the Michael Lewis Friends of the Disabled Award to The Shea Center board chairman Susan Chaney- Purel , a lifelong horsewoman who started as a lesson volunteer in 2009 and became a certified therapeutic riding instructor because of her passion for the center ’ s clients . The award , named after the center ’ s first client in 1978 , honors individuals , families , companies and organizations that significantly impact the lives of people with disabilities at The Shea Center and beyond . ( sheacenter . org ) — S . S .
1 2 3
4 5
6 7
1 . Beth and Mark Hebner 2 . Jon Fosheim , Bill Klein , Tom Bengard 3 . Derek Steffien , Susan Chaney-Purel , Hunter Steffien 4 . Matt and Serena Benson , Samantha Crow , Sally Bull 5 . Doug Cicione , Laura Burhart , Adriana Trenev , Jennifer Langer , Julian Ford 6 . Megan Zacks , Brady O ’ Connell , Brendan and Krysti Crafts , Eden and George O ’ Connell 7 . Jon and Penny Fosheim , Kirbette and Rick Griffin
TOP SECTION : PIXEL THAT ! PHOTOGRAPHY ; BOTTOM SECTION : REZA ALLAHBAKHSHI
FESTIVAL OF OC CHEFS Featuring a variety of food and wine samples , the second annual Festival of OC Chefs took place at Newport Beach Country Club and raised $ 820,000 for KidWorks , an organization that helps to restore at-risk neighborhoods . The July 17 event was attended by 400 supporters , who enjoyed wines from renowned labels such as Three Sticks , Crown Point , Chateau Montelena and Duckhorn and Schramsberg vineyards , and later sampled desserts on the lawn . Among the 34 restaurants participating were several from Laguna Beach , including C ’ est La Vie , Oliver ’ s Osteria , Seabutter and Sueños . Event co-chair and KidWorks ’ board chair Cory Alder spoke about the nonprofit ’ s successes , from the inclusion of additional satellite campuses to expanding programs to encompass Friday nights and Saturdays . Luis Lopez won the 50-bottle premium wine tree raffle valued at $ 2,500 and donated by Mona Lee Nesseth , but Lopez decided to donate it back to KidWorks and the prize was auctioned for $ 5,500 to benefit the nonprofit , which offers preschool and after-school programs as well as tutoring and mentoring plus health services and parenting classes for adults . ( kidworksoc . org ) — Catherine Norby g
1 2
3 4
1 . Yen Wu , Jose Arrieta 2 . Antonio Roa , Enrique Valenzuela 3 . George Rozsahegyi , Mona Lee Nesseth 4 . Amy Mack , Cynthia DeBaun
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 27