Napa in Newport
More than $700,000 was raised for Newport Beach-based CureDuchenne, a nonprofit seeking to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, at the Napa in Newport fundraiser dinner and wine tasting on Feb. 27. Over 420 people attended the event at The St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, which began with a reception featuring 41 Napa Valley wineries. Dinner was catered by Sapphire Laguna chef-owner Azmin Ghahreman, followed by a live auction featuring rare wine, Napa getaways and other exclusive experiences at the event emceed by actor Richard Burgi (“Desperate Housewives”). CureDuchenne co-founders Paul and Debra Miller addressed the crowd along with their son Hawken, who was diagnosed 13 years ago at age 5 with the disease that only affects boys; those with Duchenne often don’t survive past their mid-20s and lose their ability to walk by their teenage years. “We just don’t have the time for tears,” Debra said. “We don’t have the energy for anything that isn’t moving forward. His clock is ticking.” —Sharon Stello
Table for 10
KM Productions hosted its 10th annual Table for 10 event in support of local nonprofits, as 300 guests attended the culinary experience at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point on March 6. Chefs from numerous Newport Beach restaurants were in attendance, including event chef chair and cocktail reception co-host Pascal Olhats of Café Jardin, in addition to Balboa Bay Resort’s Rachel Haggstrom, Fig & Olive’s Mark Hibbs and The Resort at Pelican Hill’s Jean Pierre-Dubray and Micah Severeid, among others. Guests enjoyed a five-course meal with wine pairings; the evening also included a cocktail reception and live auction that raised $300,000 for Rancho Santa Margarita-based The Teen Project, which offers resources to teens aging out of the foster care system, and Vocational Visions, a Mission Viejo organization that assists disabled adults through employment programs and personalized support. —Kristin Scharkey NBM
