The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

Newport Coast hostess Sally Crockett held a luncheon recently at Big

Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach to present a check for $40,000 to a

representative of the Families For Freedom Scholarship Fund. The fund

benefits relatives of the victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Money raised came from the success of the annual contributions of

Sound of Music Guild members supporting the Orange County Performing Arts

Center. Crockett and her Sound of Music associates made a pledge at the

start of the fund-raising season to donate 25% of their earnings to the

Sept. 11 charity, with the balance going to the Orange County Performing

Arts Center.

More than $180,000 was raised by the small, but hard-working, group,

largely from the profits from their spring gala. The gala, billed as

“Easy Rider Returns,” welcomed actor Peter Fonda to the Orange Coast

community.

Suzanne Hoffmon Esber of the Flour Corp. graciously accepted the

$40,000 donation from Sally Crockett to the heartfelt applause of Sound

of Music members and guests attending the luncheon.

* * *

In other guild news, the Center Stage Chapter of The Guilds in support

of the Orange County Performing Arts Center is very busy in the final

stages of production for the this year’s “Hot Blues on a Cool Summer

Night,” set for July 25 at South Coast Plaza Village.

Jerry Black will chair the event for the fourth year, working with

Irene Bennett and Kelli Humphreys. The triad is working to secure the

best jazz talent in Southern California.

They have already lined up the Bernie Pearl Blues Band and Brother

Yusef to kick off the celebration with 5 p.m. cocktails. The fabulous

restaurants of the South Coast Plaza area have generously donated dinner,

which will be displayed throughout the concert area for patrons to

partake in samples of many different cuisines.

Barbara Fischer, Center Stage Chapter public relations, reports that

tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. The evening is for adults

21 and older only. For information, call (714) 284-5464.

* * *

South Coast Plaza has joined forces with the Festival of Arts and the

Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach to promote the art show and sale

that put Laguna Beach on the map.

The business and cultural alignment is featuring a special exhibition

at Jewel Court in South Coast Plaza, giving the public a sneak peek at

the excitement. The exhibit closes on Sunday, so if you haven’t had the

opportunity to visit, this is your weekend to head to South Coast Plaza.

Scott Moore, president of the Festival of Arts Board of Directors,

commented, “We thank South Coast Plaza, Mont Blanc, and Kendall-Jackson

Wineries for supporting this satellite exhibit.”

Special artist demonstrations will take place today and Sunday from

1:30 until 3:30 p.m., featuring the props, costumes and artwork of a

number of the festival exhibitors. The Festival of the Arts will premiere

July 4 and run through Sept. 1 at Irvine Bowl Park in Laguna Beach. For

more information, call (949) 494-1145.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.