Orange County Comes Out Swingin' To Raise More Than $750,000 For Miracles For Kids

"Night of Miracles 2010: Live & Swingin'" Held at St. Regis Monarch Beach. End Quote

Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA (1888PressRelease) October 21, 2010 - Tustin-based Miracles for Kids held its 10th annual gala on October 16 raised over $750,000 to fund the non-profit organization's programs that provide aid to hundreds of low-income families with critically ill children throughout Southern California - currently operating at the Children's Hospital of Orange County and expanding to additional hospitals in the coming months - as well as support cutting-edge research through the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

More than 500 revelers attended the popular annual "Night of Miracles" event, which took place at St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point and featured a cocktail reception, contemporary French dinner, silent and live auctions, as well as a lively Fund-a-Family fundraiser; and exciting entertainment from Direct from Vegas: The Rat Pack, music and comedy show fronted by Sammy, Dean & Frank.

Always an enthusiastic auctioneer, Jim Nye led a live auction that showcased exclusive dining and luxury getaway offerings. A weeklong escape to Casa Todo Bien in Punta Mita, Mexico - a new spectacular gated estate home with a fully staffed beachfront property featuring luxurious accommodations for up to 17 guests - went for $20,000. A Bejeweled Beverly Hills Weekend for Two designed by famed jeweler Michael Beaudry sold for $16,000, which included a 44-inch necklace made of faceted black diamonds and lustrous black Tahitian pearls; a pair of black diamond-studded Luxuriator sunglasses; a weekend stay in the Governor's Suite at Montage Beverly Hills; a night of fine dining at Bouchon; lunch at Cafeì Remo; and a private champagne reception with Beaudry himself in his Beverly Hills salon.

The most thrilling moment of the evening was the Fund-a-Family fundraiser, when hundreds of bidders raised their bid cards as Nye called out levels of funding from $100 to $25,000; and then the total amount was matched by Robert Flaxman with a $100,000 donation for the second year in a row - raising over $300,000 in 15 minutes for the Fund-a-Family Program - which directly funds the Miracles for Kids Grant Program, the heart and soul of the organization.

Guests enjoyed an elegant three-course dinner featuring: Duo of Chilled Asparagus and Smoked Salmon Napoleon to start; Beef Tenderloin with Marchand de Vin Sauce and Black Cod Grenobloise with Spinach Timbale as the main course; and Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Ice Cream for a sweet finale.

Miracles for Kids founder and board chairman Curtis Green, Jr. gave a warm welcome and thanked the board of directors, including Paula Ansara-Wilhelm, DJ Burke, Kenneth Gerdau, Azmin Ghahreman, David Heil, Michael Meyer, Kevin O'Connell, Peter Quill, Tom Swanecamp, Dag Wilkinson and Yuri Vanetik; as well as president and event chair Autumn Strier, for the consistent dedication of time, resources and energy that made the night possible.

The 2010 Miracle Maker Award was presented to Stars & Stripes Board of Directors, also known as "The Knights": Dick Gebhard, Jeff Cunningham, Tim Ryan, Charles Ruck, Al Baldwin and Larry Kirkenslager - in honor of their dedication to and support of Miracles for Kids, and the miracles that they have already made by selecting Miracles for Kids as a charitable partner for the 14th Annual Stars & Stripes Tournament in Cabo San Lucas held in June 2010.

Founded in 2002, Tustin-based Miracles for Kids' mission is to improve the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The organization accomplishes this mission by providing families with the financial support necessary to cope with a child's illness; by providing funds to non-profits and other entities that support or conduct research focused on eradicating life-threatening childhood diseases and by serving as an advocate for children and families who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. For more information, please visit www.MiraclesForKids.org.

Media Contacts: Marguarite Clark Public Relations (949) 295-2801 mc ( @ ) mclarkpr dot com
Autumn Strier, Miracles for Kids (714) 730-3040 astrier ( @ ) miraclesforkids dot org

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