THE GUILDS OF SEGERSTROM CENTER
FOR THE ARTS
SPRING FORWARD WITH EXCITING FUNDRAISERS
Celebrating the Arts: “Afternoon in Provence”
Beverly Sills Chapter “Over the Rainbow”
The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts – the oldest and largest of the
Center’s support groups – has held two spring fundraising triumphs with one to go. On March 16, The Guilds
held it’s annual all-Guilds Celebrating the Arts event with “Springtime in Provence” and on April 6, the
Beverly Sills Chapter of The Guilds held its annual fashion show and luncheon, “Over the Rainbow.”
Together they raised more than $300,000 to support the Center’s many life-enriching education and
community engagement programs.
The Guilds is Segerstrom Center’s oldest and largest support group, with members representing all areas
and most communities in Orange County. It’s a thriving network of individuals who know that the arts matter
and are committed to sharing the magic ability of the arts to enhance, enrich and even change lives. There
are 18 chapters in the Guilds organization.
Segerstrom Center’s education programs, supported in great part by The Guilds, serve more than 300,000
young people in schools throughout Orange County, making it one of the largest providers of arts education
programs in the nation. The education programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts.
Some add enrichment to standard curriculum; others provide high-risk teens with the opportunity to build self-confidence,
learn to trust and be trusted, and find hope for more promising futures.
The Center’s education department offers schools the opportunity to bring young people to the Center to experience the magic of live
performance. And other programs help to create sustainable musical theatre programs in the most
underserved schools where funding for the arts doesn’t exist.
Celebrating the Arts: Springtime In Provence
The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrated the change of season during its annual Spring
Celebration fundraiser on April 6 – this year aptly titled “Springtime in Provence.” Held at the Balboa Bay
Resort on March 16, nearly 300 Guilds members, raised nearly $250,000. It was chaired by Ms. Willie
Goodman of the Beverly Sills Chapter of the Guilds and emceed by Guilds Chairman Mary Shebell and
master host and auctioneer Zack Krone.
Dee and Larry Higby and Family
The Guilds honored Dee and Larry Higby for their many years of support and encouragement to The Guilds
and the Center. Dee and Larry were members of The Guilds’ Con Gusto Chapter, and Dee also of the
Crescendo Chapter as well as a member of the Center’s Angels of the Arts support group. Larry has been a
member of the Center’s board of directors since 1990 and has served as chairman.
Sandy Bass received
the annual Guilds Inspiration Award. The award is presented each year to a long-time Guilds member in
recognition of their exemplary service and zest for volunteerism. Bass has been a member of the Guilds for
18 years and has served in many roles, including Chairman of the Crescendo Chapter in 2000 and co-chair
of the entire 1,200 Guilds membership.
Sandy and Jerry Bass
Guest enjoyed a French-inspired lunch that featured a salade niçoise, flat iron steak with Bordelaise with
pomme dauphinoise or a vegetarian baked ratatouille galette, ending with a light lemon and lavender torte for
dessert. A raffle, silent and live auction and the traditional “raise your paddle” Fund-A-Future opportunity for
guests to donate additionally to the cause added to the afternoon’s success.
The raffle offered two prizes: a silver South Sea pearl pendant featuring 1.25 carats of sapphires, diamonds,
and aquamarines on a pearl necklace compliments of Lugano Diamonds, and a $1,250 shopping spree at South Coast Plaza.
The live auction offered a “Night on the Town” at The Capital Grille in South Coast Plaza that included a five-course
chef’s dinner and wine pairing for four. The second live auction package contained four tickets to the Rolling
Stones “No Filter” tour at the Rose Bowl in May. And, last, a pair of tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at
the Center (July 10-21), dinner at the popular Water Grill, a one-night stay at Avenue of the Arts Hotel across
the street from the Center and brunch at the hotel’s Silver Trumpet restaurant.
Among the guests were Center Chairman Mark Perry and his wife, Carol, last year’s Inspiration Award
honoree Marty Olds, Center Executive Vice President Judy Morr, Julia Argyros, and former Guilds chairs
Carol Wilken, Bev Sandelman, Gail Daniels, Kay Fukunaga, Marilyn McCorkle, and Sandy Hovanesian.
Beverly Sills Chapter: Over the Rainbow Luncheon and Fashion Show
The Beverly Sills Chapter of The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts held its eighth annual luncheon
and fashion show on Saturday, April 6 at the Fashion Island Hotel. Karen Fullerton and Judy Kelley cochaired.
Fashions for men, women, and children were provided by Callie Girl of Mission Viejo, Macy’s South
Coast Plaza, Station 17 of Seal Beach and La Galleria at the Enderle Center in Tustin. Just over 300 people
showed their support and helped to raise $45,000. Once again, all proceeds will enable the Center to provide
meaningful arts-education programs to young people throughout Orange County and to reach new segments
of the community through innovative partnerships and services.
On arrival, guests were greeted with champagne. They perused a vast array of items for the silent auction.
Lunch included a classic Caesar salad, rosemary-brined chicken with heirloom potatoes and root vegetables,
haricot verts and forest mushroom cream. The centerpieces were dessert – trees of rainbow cupcakes with
assorted frostings. Soprano Hannah Alexander, a graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in
Australia opened the fashion show with a moving “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Sharing the afternoon were Beverly Sills Chapter Co-Chairs Eilene Fletcher and Marilyn McCorkle, Bev
Sandelman, Karen Fullerton, Bobbie Bouillon, Shari Cipolla, Willie Goodman, Anne Marie Eckman and
Center Executive Vice President Judy Morr.
The next Guilds fundraiser will be the annual West County Area Guild’s “Une Affaire Internationale” on
May 8 at the historic Duck Club in Irvine. The Guild is comprised of the Carmen, Center Stage, and Stage
Door chapters. This year’s event will be truly cosmopolitan and celebrate countries Guilds members and their
guests have visited, long to visit and were born in. Costumes reflecting current or historic cultures and
traditions are encouraged.
For information about The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, visit www.SCFTA or call 714-556-2122,
ext. 4530.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary
cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to
engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a
diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs.
Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County’s largest
non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the
American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School.
Information provided is accurate at the time of printing but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the
Arts is a public, non-profit organization. SCFTA.org
Photo Credits: Segerstrom Center For The Arts
