THE CROWD:Supporters of the arts gather for exhibit

Acclaimed artist Natasha Shoro graced the Newport Beach Central Library this week, fronting an exhibition of her work sponsored by the Newport Beach City Arts Commission. A lively crowd of culture creatures mixed and contemplated Shoro’s work in the Friends Meeting Room. The arts commission works diligently behind the scenes with little recognition and funding to create and promote a variety of events that spread the message and the meaning of art.

It was what you might call a “power meeting” as some of the most successful women in business joined forces at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel for a conference this week. The National Assn. for Female Executives (NAFE) joined Equal Voice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stereotypes about women in leadership positions. The confab was a “Women for Women Forum: Where the Public and Private Sectors Intersect.” In the crowd were some high ranking executives including California Secretary of State Debra Bowen; Renee Fraser, president and chief executive of Fraser Communications; and Marilyn Johnson, vice president of market development for IBM. Also present was Betty Spence, president of Equal Voice.

“We come together here to raise the awareness on the value of women’s leadership and the importance of women’s voices to business, as well as to the health, safety and prosperity of our nation,” Spence said.

The evening began with a cocktail reception and a “meet and greet” followed by a panel discussion.

The Pacific Life Foundation, led by President Bob Haskell and Pacific Life Chairman and Chief Executive Tom Sutton will welcome the philanthropic community next week for the annual distribution of more than $1.5 million in grants. Some 200 nonprofits will share in the Pacific Life generosity, all benefiting Orange County residents and projects. The award reception will take place Jan. 29 at Pacific Life headquarters in Newport Beach. Sutton will present the Walter B. Gerken Award for outstanding community service, which comes with an additional $25,000 grant to the deserving agency. For more information, contact Tennyson Oyler at (949) 219-3248 or e-mail [email protected].

Lido Isle’s lovely Linda Giannini, founding director of the Lido Isle Charitable Foundation, joined friends and donors for a reception honoring locals who helped raise funds for Newport Harbor High School’s “Angel Fund,” and the Mobile Meals program sponsored by Friends in Service to Humanity. More than $6,000 was raised at Lido Isle’s “Home For The Holidays” home tour, which featured four outstanding Lido Isle residences. The “thank you” reception was hosted by and held in the showroom of Charlene Asdourian, proprietor of Melrose Antiques in Corona del Mar.

The incredible Harvesters, a support wing of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, got together before the holidays to welcome Pucci at South Coast Plaza. The party was both a smash and a splash — of color and fashion, that is. The famous Pucci designs were shown off by some of Orange County’s most fashionable gals.

In the crowd were Harvesters Maria Cooper, Carmela Phillips, Heather Madden, Tamara Decky, Julie Taylor, and Heidi Ambe.