THE CROWD:Charity abounds in Orange County organizations

Organizers are in the final stages of preparation for the 25th annual Newport Beach Concours d’Elegance. The anniversary celebration is set for Oct. 6 and 7 and will take place at the Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. The show will display antique, classic and vintage automobiles with proceeds benefiting the Assessment Treatment Services Center (ATSC), and Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

I caught up with Newport’s dynamic and charitable patroness Catherine Thyen of Camino Shores, who championed an elegant summer party sponsored by Chopard that South Coast Plaza had earlier this summer on behalf of the Concours.

The party attracted some 300 guests to kick off the upcoming car show. Thyen commented, “With great naiveté we took the responsibility to mount an event of this complexity. Our purpose was to develop a different event to raise funds for ATSC. We were so anxious to see this organization survive because we saw how significant it was in the lives of children who, however briefly, were derailed from standard behavior.”

Thyen chaired the pre-event party, which was at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, showcasing a spectacular stable of German engineering.

In the crowd were Gerald Aust, Floyd Harmon, Judy Hemley, Candace Rice, Kathy Taylor, Dick Waitneight, and Bruce Junor, chairman of the 2007 Newport Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Also supporting the Concours are Art Astor, Michael Gertner, Penny Fox, Don and Erna Minkoff, Rick and Lucy Rawlins, Tom and Elizabeth Tierney, Kent Wilken, Richard Moriarty and Loren Blackwood. For more information on the upcoming Concourse please go to www.newportbeach concours.com or call (800) 839-7520.

The Public Law Center of Orange County had a dinner celebration recently to honor outstanding volunteers.

The keynote speaker was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The purpose of the Public Law Center is to provide legal services to low-income residents. Both volunteers and staff members provide counseling, education, legal services and even individual representation to those in need.

Last year the Public Law Center assisted more than 12,500 low-income residents, and did so with the volunteer efforts of some 700 pro bono lawyers, paralegals, law students and other staff and volunteers who provided more than 43,000 hours of free legal services.

This year the dinner honored the law firm of Minyard Morris, LLP. The attorney of the year was John Hurlbut Jr. of Rutan and Tucker LLP.

Finally, the corporate honoree of the year was Macy’s West for their commitment to serving people with HIV/AIDS through fashion fundraisers which raised funds for the Public Law Center’s AIDS Legal Assistance program.

They are calling it “A Passport to Italy’s Bountiful Flavors.” The UC Irvine Center for Diabetes Treatment and Research invites the Newport-Mesa community to help raise funds for treatment and research Sept. 6 at Prego Ristorante in Irvine.

The evening will celebrate three years of care and commitment to patients at the UCI center, featuring an address by Dr. George Chandy on progress being made. Organizers are planning a wine paring with classic Italian Tuscan dinner fare, as well as a silent auction to help raise the tally of funds.

Tickets are $50 per person and may be reserved by going to www.ucidiabetes.org or by calling Rebecca Ford at UCI Irvine, (949) 824-1677.

Also with an Italian theme, La Dolce Vita celebrated the delights of summer at a new custom villa in Shady Canyon.

Real estate entrepreneur John McMonigle and his lovely bride Robin welcomed the people to an evening touring a multimillion dollar Santa Barbara inspired residence.

The party raised funds to support funds for Juvenile Diabetes and specifically the goals of the Orange County Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is steadfastly supported by Newport Beach social activist Jennifer Condas.

Guests sampled the fabulous hors d’oeuvers by Saltwater Events & Catering.