In a city where tradition is mostly a quaint concept, the American Cancer Society’s annual California Spirit event has thrived for 22 years, raising $11 million along the way. That’s partly due to the company the charity keeps. After all, the man behind the kitchen curtain
at the event is cofounder and über-celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.This year the popular Puck rounded up an impressive group of 20 restaurants—including his own Spago, Chinois on Main, and Vert—as well as 22 wineries, to wine and dine the 800 guests who had paid $350 to while away the afternoon on the lawn of a rambling estate in tony Brentwood. Some of the city’s top restaurants, such as Valentino, Matsuhisa, the Belvedere at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, and Grace, joined forced to serve up an eclectic mix of dishes including mini-dishes of grilled pizza, white fish tirado, pan-seared Thai snapper with tamarind banana curry, and bok choy and roasted baby beet salad at festively decorated tables that ringed the property.
Other tables displayed a wide array of silent auction items worth $400,000, ranging from a home makeover, to a Fat Albert animation cell, to a beige Chanel handbag. Guests who preferred to limit their purchases could gamble $100 on a raffle ticket for a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, or spend the same amount on a sure thing—a centerpiece and gift bag that included a certificate for a custom-tailored men’s shirt from 12 Threads; skin and hair products from Susan Ciminelli, Obagi, and Christophe; and coffee from Peet’s and Sauce Caffe. The centerpieces, designed by event committee member Terry Kraemer and Amy Child of the Hidden Garden, consisted of charred wood boxes filled with orchids, starfish, driftwood, cacti, and Illume candles. The centerpieces added to the beachy look of the party, along with a sea of beige umbrellas that helped shield guests from the fierce mid-July sun.
For a nonprofit to pull off an event with so many moving pieces required an army of volunteers. By 7:30 AM, 80 had arrived on site to set up lawn furniture and unpack and display auction items before V.I.P. guests arrived for cocktails inside the home at 4 PM. The main event began an hour later, and it honored a prominent Hollywood couple, producers Richard and Lauren Schuler Donner, both of whom are cancer survivors. The Donners had been asked to participate by event cochairwoman Joan Ransohoff, whose husband Marty produced The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.
While California Spirit is a fixture on many supporters’ social calendars, organizers are always tweaking their M.O. They recently added a media committee to help it keep growing.
“We want more people to come and realize how lovely this event is,” said event cochairwoman Shelly Reid. “But it’s really about increasing the awareness of California Spirit and what we do, and increasing cancer awareness. We’re very clear about that.” The volunteer chairs collaborated with the American Cancer Society’s L.A. community director, Gayle Gilbert Hammerling, and regional income development director Jill Arnstein.
—Irene Lacher
Photos: 07.27.06
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at the event is cofounder and über-celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.This year the popular Puck rounded up an impressive group of 20 restaurants—including his own Spago, Chinois on Main, and Vert—as well as 22 wineries, to wine and dine the 800 guests who had paid $350 to while away the afternoon on the lawn of a rambling estate in tony Brentwood. Some of the city’s top restaurants, such as Valentino, Matsuhisa, the Belvedere at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, and Grace, joined forced to serve up an eclectic mix of dishes including mini-dishes of grilled pizza, white fish tirado, pan-seared Thai snapper with tamarind banana curry, and bok choy and roasted baby beet salad at festively decorated tables that ringed the property.
Other tables displayed a wide array of silent auction items worth $400,000, ranging from a home makeover, to a Fat Albert animation cell, to a beige Chanel handbag. Guests who preferred to limit their purchases could gamble $100 on a raffle ticket for a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, or spend the same amount on a sure thing—a centerpiece and gift bag that included a certificate for a custom-tailored men’s shirt from 12 Threads; skin and hair products from Susan Ciminelli, Obagi, and Christophe; and coffee from Peet’s and Sauce Caffe. The centerpieces, designed by event committee member Terry Kraemer and Amy Child of the Hidden Garden, consisted of charred wood boxes filled with orchids, starfish, driftwood, cacti, and Illume candles. The centerpieces added to the beachy look of the party, along with a sea of beige umbrellas that helped shield guests from the fierce mid-July sun.
For a nonprofit to pull off an event with so many moving pieces required an army of volunteers. By 7:30 AM, 80 had arrived on site to set up lawn furniture and unpack and display auction items before V.I.P. guests arrived for cocktails inside the home at 4 PM. The main event began an hour later, and it honored a prominent Hollywood couple, producers Richard and Lauren Schuler Donner, both of whom are cancer survivors. The Donners had been asked to participate by event cochairwoman Joan Ransohoff, whose husband Marty produced The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.
While California Spirit is a fixture on many supporters’ social calendars, organizers are always tweaking their M.O. They recently added a media committee to help it keep growing.
“We want more people to come and realize how lovely this event is,” said event cochairwoman Shelly Reid. “But it’s really about increasing the awareness of California Spirit and what we do, and increasing cancer awareness. We’re very clear about that.” The volunteer chairs collaborated with the American Cancer Society’s L.A. community director, Gayle Gilbert Hammerling, and regional income development director Jill Arnstein.
—Irene Lacher
Photos: 07.27.06
Related Stories
Cancer Charity, L.A. Mag Host Block Party
Benefit Brings Napa’s Flavors to Beverly Hills
Top chefs from 20 L.A. eateries dished up food for the American Cancer Society’s California Spirit benefit in Brentwood.
Flowers from C.J. Matsumoto topped Spago's table.
Guests could gamble $100 on a raffle ticket for a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid.
Beige umbrellas over auction tables helped shield guests from the fierce mid-July sun.
