THE CROWD

B.W. Cook

The most prestigious business organization devoted to art and culture

in Orange County -- the Orange County Business Committee for the Arts --

held its 20th annual gathering, attracting the best and the brightest to

honor their own. It was the Business in the Arts awards reception and

dinner staged at the Newport Marriott Hotel and the Ritz restaurant

respectively.

The sophisticated evening began with a cocktail reception held in the

atrium court at the Marriott as several hundred guests exchanged ideas

prior to the formal presentation of awards led by N. Christian Anderson

III, chairman of the committee.

Moving from the atrium court to a ballroom for the ceremony, the

parade of handsome people, many of whom have been associated in both

business and private matters for many years, amounted to nothing less

than an Orange County “Who’s Who” streaming through the hotel hallway.

Ed and Priscilla Akins, Sally Anderson, Tom Rogers, Twyla and Charles

Martin, Carolyn and Bill Beaver, Marilyn and Joe Bentley, Sue and Bob

Brown, Harry Bubb, Melinda Rader, Cliff and Donna Carper, Chris and Julie

Schulz, Donna and Blaine Collett, Bob Fluor, Jeanne and Dave Tappan, Dick

Howard, Jerry Kenny, Mark and Barbara Johnson, Don and Dorothy Kennedy,

Barbara Kenady, Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom, Elizabeth and John Stahr

and Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom were among the notables.

Each year, the Business in the Arts Committee introduces a

distinguished guest of honor as part of the program. Eli Broad, chairman

of Sun America Inc. and co-founder of KB (Kaufman and Broad) Home, graced

the podium with master of ceremonies Anderson. Broad, a Los Angeles

resident and nationally known business leader, art collector and

philanthropist, was circumspect.

One of the world’s most powerful businessmen, responsible with his

wife, Edythe, for endowing a $100-million foundation to benefit urban

school districts across America, Broad basically told the assemblage of

leadership that the relationship between culture and commerce is

essential for the enrichment of society as a whole.

“Business leaders have the resources to fund culture,” he said. “We

can make a significant difference using our resources wisely.”

Broad shared his role as founding chairman of the board of trustees

for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, stating, “You want to

talk about politics, let me tell you.”

The crowd roared. Later in the evening, many guests commented on

Broad’s path, sharing the view that cultural advancement is often exacted

at great personal sacrifice.

“Leadership is necessary in every time, every age, to make the vision

a reality,” added Broad, citing such benefactors of civilization in past

centuries as the Medicis during the Italian Renaissance and the

Rockefellers during the 20th century.

Business in the Arts is dedicated to the pursuit of helping to

enlighten and enlarge the greater social view. To this end, those

involved get involved because they believe in the lofty good. Some are

extremely passionate about the concept. The integration of art, culture,

architecture, music and commerce represents a lifelong axiom -- a call to

use power and money in a way that elevates humanity. It is the

penultimate goal of the true businessman-statesman based on models that

date to social antiquity, including those of ancient Greek, Roman,

Egyptian and Hebraic civilizations.

Of the many individuals in Orange County standing tall for the

principle of community, culture and commerce, one among us exemplifies

this statesmanship at the highest level. Henry Segerstrom, attending the

event with his wife, Elizabeth, serves as the national chairman of

Business in the Arts. His love of Orange County and his contribution to

its growth and its culture is nationally recognized.

Segerstrom joined Judi Jedlicka of New York, who is president of the

Business Committee for the Arts Inc., to commend local supporters.

Honored guest corporations and organizations at the 2001 awards ceremony

included: Haskell & White LLP; Resources Connection; Noelle Corporate

Communications; Bank of America; the Boeing Co.; Data Into Action; Latham

& Watkins; McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners Inc.; O’Melveny & Myers

LLP; Disneyland Resort; Fluor Corp.; Los Angeles Times, Orange County

Edition; Wells Fargo Bank; The First American Corp. and the Laguna

Playhouse.

Following the ceremony, the crowd crossed the boulevard from the

Marriott to Newport’s Ritz for a holiday dinner celebration. The elegant

traditional dining room was resplendent with seasonal decor.

“This restaurant is always such a treat at holiday time,” commented

Carol Wilken, attending the evening with husband Kent Wilken. Carol

Wilken served as one of the judges for the awards.

The dinner began with the Ritz seafood martini and progressed through

courses of wild mushroom, cappuccino soup, tournedos of filet mignon over

Portobello mushrooms and an exceptional dessert of warm pear cheesecake

in caramel sauce with poire William sorbet.

Guests including Joyce and Ralph Allen, Marilyn and Bob McIntyre,

Harriett and Jim Selna , Nancy and Keith Yun, Billur Wallerich, Felicity

and Don Sodaro, Carol and Don Murray, Kate Peters, Carl and Rebecca

McLarand and Janet Joyce shared in the exceptional tone of the moment.

They had all come to make a difference in Orange County, and to celebrate

past, present and future together.

In addition to the prominent business award recipients, the evening

was also a tribute to one lady who has made a very personal difference in

this community. Betty Moss, founding director of Orange County Business

in the Arts, was recognized for 20 years of service. A standing ovation

from the communityaccentuated the appreciation of efforts from this

dedicated community activist who has painstakingly forged cultural and

commercial relationships over more than two decades. Her work has

resulted in progress that is documented in every major arts organization

and every office tower on the Orange Coast.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.