January 12th, 2006

 In the world of competitive sports, there’s no athlete more fearless, more physical, and more rough-and-tumble than the professional hockey player. Hockey games are filled with hooking, high sticking, profanity-spewing, jersey-pulling, and fist-throwing combatants on ice. These guys are just bad to the bone, right? That assumption couldn’t be further from the truth, and the entire team of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, their coaches, and the owners turned up to dispel the myth at the sixth-annual Dux in Tux.
The “Celebrity Servers Event” was held at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel and a crowd of about 500 showed up to lend their support to the cause. The players and coaches donned tuxedos and graciously served guests a three-course meal to help raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Mighty Ducks Care, a fund of the Robert McCormick Tribune Foundation. If you think these athletes look good in uniforms, you should have seen them in tuxes.
Radio personality Shawn Parr charmed attendees as master of ceremony and auctioneer. John Ahler, Steve Carroll, Brian Hayward, and Brent Severyn, play-by-play and color commentators for Mighty Ducks of Anaheim television and radio, lent their considerable communication skills to work the crowd during the live auction.
Dux in Tux co-chairmen Marc Franz and Bob Goetz expect to raise about $300,000, pushing the event’s six-year total over the $2 million mark. Franz and Goetz have been best friends for years, and when Goetz’s two children, Ashley and Corey Goetz, were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), the men were determined to find a cure for the debilitating disease. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mighty Ducks goaltender and the event’s honorary chairman, urged supporters to “go for the goal” in the fight against CF. He hopes that someday soon, CF will stand for “cure found.”
The crowd was filled with sponsors, volunteers, and family members whose lives have been touched by the illness. Sue and Dave Hook, Ken and Debbie Johnson, Rob and Kathy De Liema, Ira Hermann, Charlene Goetz, Loretta Moody, Bob Waltos, and Mike and Mary Zollman were among the strong supporters present that evening.
Susan Samueli, owner of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, encouraged the crowd to support the cause. She and her husband, Henry Samueli, have owned the team for less than a year, but she heartily endorsed the team’s dedication to raising money for CF.
Although the room was filled with high-powered celebrities, the real stars of the evening were the young people present who are battling CF. Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Lysy has been coping with CF his entire life, and when he unflinchingly took the stage to eloquently share his story, the reality and hardship of living with the illness really hit home with those present.
Nicole Richie, daughter of R&B crooner Lionel Richie and co-star of television show The Simple Life with Paris Hilton, held a book signing at Book Soup. About 350 fans waited in long lines for a chance to meet her and get an autograph. Richie was in town to promote her new book, The Truth About Diamonds—a story of a rock-star daughter who becomes enmeshed in Hollywood’s inner circle, hangs out with spoiled, rich celebrities, attends star-studded parties and clubs, and develops drug and alcohol problems. Not much of a stretch for her, ya think?
The petite blonde showed up about 45 minutes late, closed the lines early and rushed attendees through the door at the speed of light. Nonetheless, her devoted fans weren’t deterred in the least.
A Charity For Charities held their second-annual Holidazzle at the Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach, and there was something for everyone at this unique and special extravaganza. Benefiting both Breast Cancer Survivors and Childhelp USA, Holidazzle 2005 celebrated the magic of many holiday traditions including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Native American tribal customs, and the Winter Solstice.
The name truly fit the event, because it was a dazzling display from beginning to end. Guests were greeted by life-sized dolls and dancing toy soldiers. The a capella and doo wop performers strolled through the crowd, entertaining all with their soulful renditions of classic holiday tunes. The dinner show was emceed by a delightfully amusing odd couple—Queen Crystaline, a robust diva reminiscent of Queen Latifah, and Jack Frost, a classically-trained thespian. The Hebrew Bottle Dancers, dancing cupcakes and gingerbread men, a hula dancer, Old Saint Nick, the Children’s Ensemble, and the Blue Rocket Band rounded out the eclectic and ambitious program.
Enthusiastic guests participated in the dinner show by shaking tambourines on cue. Spotted in the crowd were Heidi and Doug Shurtleff, Heather Gilbert, Bob and Marilyn Cavanaugh, Dennis and Vicki Hoffman, Jacquin Anastasio, Julie David, Christine Han, Melinda Gann, Susan Truesdale, and Carol Cochrane.
Breast Cancer Survivors, founded by Heather Gilbert, helps patients undergoing breast cancer treatment who are in need of financial assistance and support. Childhelp USA supports group homes that shelter children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Both these worthy charities benefited equally from proceeds raised at Holidazzle 2005.
The holiday season is filled with heart-felt traditions, and there is none more revered in Newport Beach than the Candy Cane Ball. Presented by the Junior Auxiliary of Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, the black-tie ball made its 57th annual debut at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and about 200 attendees turned up to help celebrate the cause.
Event chair Jane Owen and co-chairs Elizabeth Martino and Susan Callas along with their dedicated staff worked diligently to transform the ocean-front yacht club into a winter wonderland. Twinkling lights, garlands, red tablecloths and ornate, glass Christmas tree centerpieces created an ambiance brimming with holiday spirit.
The event opened with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction allowing guests an opportunity to mingle. Jim and Joanie Grant, Arnie and Kathy Youngman, Rovena Doddy, Pame Schmider, Susan and Peter Hitch, Cassie and David Conant, Jill and Bruce Ayres, and James Callas were among those enjoying the festivities. A gourmet dinner, a live auction and dancing completed the evening, making this year’s Candy Cane Ball one of the best yet.
For six years, the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa has assessed and met the physical, material, emotional, and cultural needs of local children. In addition to the Candy Cane Ball, the league raises funds through a thrift shop, a consignment shop, and a banquet facility. Their philanthropic projects include the Children’s Dental Health Center, Operation School Bell, Kids on the Block and the Community Outreach Program.
Newport Coast resident Colette Taormina recently played in the Merrill Lynch Pro-Am Skins Game at Trilogy Golf Course in La Quinta. This mother of seven was one of only a handful of women who dared tee it up with the likes of Tiger Woods and other PGA superstars. During the tournament, a fan mistook the blonde, athletic Colette for one of the other female golfers and came rushing across the fairway yelling, “Annika, Annika!” He was a little disappointed to discover his error because he had run more than 15 holes in hopes of seeing his favorite LPGA player.
The unwanted attention didn’t seem to faze this former Big Canyon Country Club ladies golf champion, as she and her teammates, which included two other amateurs and PGA aces Gary McCord and Paul Azinger, won the runner-up trophy. They missed first place by just one shot—don’t you hate when that happens?
Later at the awards party Taormina met many of the celebrities who played in the tournament. Professional golfers Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Nick Faldo, and Fred Funk along with Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish were more than happy to pose for photos with her.