COMEDY NIGHT More than 200 supporters attended the Extraordinary Lives Foundation ’ s annual Comedy Night fundraiser gala , which featured comedians including headliner George Wang , Lowell Benjamin and Frances Dilorinzo , who served as host , on Oct . 19 at the Festival of Arts grounds . Raising $ 155,000 to benefit the nonprofit ’ s health and wellness programs for children , the event featured a cocktail hour , dinner , silent and live auctions , and photos with Piggie Bear , the character around which many ELF programs are based . Guests were welcomed not only by organization founder and CEO Mara James , but also California state Treasurer Fiona Ma , before videos and presentations about the group ’ s work . ELF seeks to improve children ’ s mental health and wellness and support families by raising awareness and providing educational tools and resources as an estimated one in five children have a diagnosable mental health condition . Funds raised at the event will support ELF ’ s Piggie Bear educational resources to boost children ’ s emotional development and the organization ’ s Hugs for Life Healing Center , which bridges the gap between mental health medical professionals and holistic healers . ELF offers healing tools to kids in hospitals , shelters , foster care centers and military families . The nonprofit ’ s leaders believe that , within a generation , they can transform many of the major problems facing today ’ s youth through early intervention and holistic treatment . ( elfempowers . org ) — S . S .
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1 . Ed and Carey Bettencourt 2 . James Lin , Fiona Ma , Mara James 3 . George Wang 4 . Duan Tran , Lee Lombardo 5 . Stephanie Bachiero Blake and Peter Blake 6 . Renata Ururahy , Alexis Gomez
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WYLAND FOUNDATION GALA Leading up to the Wyland Foundation ’ s annual gala Nov . 13 at the Laguna Art-A-Fair grounds , some of the supporters were treated to a VIP whale and dolphin watching excursion followed by a walk-through of a new state-of-the-art audio-visual experience aboard the foundation ’ s mobile clean water learning center , which was on display at Dana Wharf . Later , at the gala — which was attended by approximately 275 guests and raised more than $ 300,000 to benefit the nonprofit ’ s clean water and healthy oceans efforts — marine life artist Wyland painted live for the crowd . Foundation President Steve Creech also spoke about some of the ways the organization is working to solve issues like urban runoff that affect the health of coastal regions nationwide . And an update was provided on new projects , like a waterwise pocket park makeover in the city of Westminster that will demonstrate smart water use for local homeowners . Guests also enjoyed dinner and live music , plus live and silent auctions featuring a vacation with Norwegian Cruise Line , a luxury golf excursion to Pebble Beach , a getaway for two at The Ranch at Laguna Beach and packages from Disneyland Resort , Alaska Airlines and The Ritz-Carlton , Laguna Niguel . ( wylandfoundation . org ) — S . S .
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1 . Lori Reyes , Scottie Bailey 2 . Mark Thomas , Wyland 3 . Wyland demonstrating his technique for the crowd 4 . Wyland ’ s finished painting , created that night
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TOP SECTION : KAREN REUTER PHOTOGRAPHY ; BOTTOM SECTION : COURTESY OF WYLAND FOUNDATION
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