The Crowd:

Adjacent to the runway at John Wayne Airport stands a row of nondescript industrial buildings. Thursday evening the doors to one such building were opened on behalf of Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Entering the warehouse from the dark parking lot was to step back in time to 1950s America. John Daniels, husband of Orange County philanthropist Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, occupies the warehouse as his private garage for a collection of 1950s era American automobiles. Lined up on the black-and-white checkered linoleum tile floor is an armada of metal. It includes a series of mid-50s two-toned turquoise and white Fords, a 1957 gold on cream Plymouth Fury, a 1959 white and red Chevrolet Impala convertible, and a gorgeous 1955 hunter green Cadillac Coup de Ville with a gray brocade interior.

The cars were the stars greeting the crowd who had come at the invitation of Sandy and John Daniels and Sandy Segerstrom Daniels’ co-chairwomen Leslie Cancellieri and Dale Skiles, a triad of powerful local women who will once again help to produce the CHOC Follies. This year the follies are being called “The Wizard of OC,” and it is the 13th annual presentation of the theatrical event that has raised in excess of $5 million in support of Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Sandy and John Daniels joined Follies executive producer Gloria Zigner to welcome supporters and underwriters of CHOC Follies XIII for a little mid-week dinner celebration among the car collection. A buffet dinner was set up at a serpentine table facing the cars that was right out of the television show “Happy Days.” They had hamburgers and hot dogs and chicken fingers and make-your-own baked potatoes with all the fixings and even a super salad bar. Desserts were out of this world, featuring the largest chocolate cupcakes you have ever seen. What a winning combination with fabulous comfort food and neat old cars, it’s no wonder that Gloria Zigner and her dedicated local men and women raised $150,000 in underwriting for the upcoming Follies.

The big star of the show, the Wizard himself, will be none other than Orange County’s ultra philanthropic Sebastian Paul Musco, who made a $50,000 pledge upon accepting the lead role in the show. Musco follows in the footsteps of other great Orange County citizens, including the late John Crean, who have made a tremendous difference through their generosity helping to save the lives of countless children receiving treatment at the hospital.

The evening at the car museum was produced by the talented Rena Puebla of Coast Concierge Service. Longtime show director John Vaughan was on hand along with hard working associate producer Lois Augustine and vice president of the CHOC’s Children’s Foundation Tanya Lieber.

VIPs in attendance included Richard and Donna Cohn, Mark and Barbara Lyster, Eve Kornyei, Valarie Whiting, Nancy Christiano, and Michael and Jacquie Casey. Also on hand to support CHOC were Tom and Nancy Wilson, Mark and Jill Bolton, Ed and Rosie Horton, Ted and Diana Wentworth, Adrienne Brennan, Judy Mertz, and Dana Gray.

The highlight of the evening even far and above the incredible cars and the great food was the introduction of Suzanne Hunter and her daughter Zoe Hunter. Suzanne Hunter shared with the gathering her daughter Zoe’s fight to survive cancer, and the treatment she received at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Zoe clung to her mother’s skirt, at first very shy, but then came to life and charmed the crowd with her youthful exuberance. Zoe was joined at the microphone by three talented women Mia Maffei, Janine Wynn, and Gina Foster performing numbers from the upcoming show.

A warm and cordial evening in an unmarked warehouse that rattled with joy every time a giant airplane took off from JWA. Ultimately, the party raised much needed funds in support of the CHOC Follies, which are slated for April 1, 2 and 3. For more information, e-mail Lois Augustine at [email protected].

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.