The annual fund- and friend-raising gala for Costa Mesa based Serving People in Need unfolded on a recent Saturday evening in the grand ballroom of the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel.
A sold-out crowd of local citizens passionate about housing families with children in need all over Orange County came to donate. And they did. More than a quarter million dollars raised for the organization’s outreach including housing placement for families with children, employment counseling, street services, health services and transportation needs.
SPIN board member MaryLou Shattuck, left, and Wayne Shattuck helped raise $250,000 for SPIN.
(Ann Chatillon)
Produced by SPIN board member Mary Lou Shattuck and her committee, the Hilton ballroom became a decidedly elevated version of the school homecoming dance. Guests entered through a massive balloon arch for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction bidding. Ballroom doors opened, revealing an elegant dinner setting that faced a large stage topped with gold balloons. On stage, an outstanding Eagles tribute band named TLR had the crowd in total homecoming spirit from the opening song.
A first class, three-course dinner beginning with a fall harvest salad, then an entrée of herb crusted salmon and red wine braised short ribs, followed by a double dessert featuring pumpkin flan cheesecake and chocolate crumb cake provided by the Hilton culinary team and served with outstanding attention to detail.
Major donors SPIN board member Katie Domagala, left, with husband Craig Domagala, attend the organization’s annual gala.
SPIN’s executive director, David Wetzel, welcomed all. The mistress of ceremonies, chef Jamie Gwen, dubbed “Homecoming Princess,” took charge of the event as SPIN stats and successes were shared via both videos and live presentations. There was no auction, just a direct ask. The crowd answered loudly.
Serving People In Need (SPIN) Executive Director David Wetzel
welcomes donors to the 2026 gala “Homecoming.”
(Ann Chatillon)
The generous giving came in significant part from SPIN board chair Curtis Scheetz and his wife Jill. They opened the ask with a major six-figure matching gift. Additional gifts followed from donors including the Domagala family, the Crawford family, Maureen Flanagan, Al DeGrassi, Mary Lou and Wayne Shattuck, Michael Gilmore, Charlie Granville, Veronica Lopez and Gazal Pour-Moezzi, to name only a few.
Spotted in the Hilton ballroom were special guests Natalie Scheetz, Gabe Scheetz, Howard and Debbie Kimmerman, Ben Stocks, Rachel Ghatikar, and Tim and Crystal Cook. Also front and center supporting the cause were Dan and Shannon Johnson, Jim Davis, Carmen Hindman, Dan and Tawnee Keene, Matt and Rebecca Lowe, Wynn and Moya O’Neill and Sam and Heidi Hirsch.
The power of mentorship
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire recently held its 62nd annual Gourmet Dinner at the Newport Beach Country Club.
The event raised a total of $1.3 million in support of the agency’s mission to transform young lives across the region through mentoring. Over the past 10 years, the Gourmet Dinner event has grossed nearly $20 million in support of youth mentorship.
Cary Hyden, right, accepts the 2026 Joel K. Rubenstein Award from past award recipient Guy Johnson at the Big Brothers Big Sisters fall event at Newport Beach Country Club.
(Courtesy of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters)
A special highlight of the evening came from Stefan Bean, superintendent of the Orange County Department of Education. He shared his personal story and reflected on how one caring adult can make a lasting difference in a young person’s life. Bean’s participation underscored a shared commitment between his department and Big Brothers Big Sisters to help young people build confidence, pursue education and expand their sense of what is possible.
The evening kicked off with an appearance by the Newport Harbor Post 291 Color Guard for the presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance, with the national anthem led by Katie Valderamma. Next up were Big Brothers Big Sisters Governing Board member Henry Walker for the invocation, followed by welcome remarks from board chairman Mike Fox.
Angel Hernandez, left, stands with his Big Brother of 11 years, Chris Pyon. Seated is the Big Brothers Big Sisters fall event’s keynote speaker, OCDE Supt. Dr. Stefan Bean.
(Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County)
“After 13 years at Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’ve learned that changing the trajectory of a young person’s life rarely happens because of one extraordinary moment,” said Sloane Keane, chief executive of the nonprofit. “It happens through a series of small ones. Mentorship creates connection. Connection creates a ripple. And enough ripples create a wave of impact.”
CureDuchenne event raises $700,000
CureDuchenne, a leading nonprofit with the mission of finding and funding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, raised more than $700,000 at the 15th Annual CureDuchenne Golf Shootout, hosted by Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry and his wife, Dani Terry.
The two-day fundraising event was held at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point. The CureDuchenne Golf Shootout, founded by NHL All-Star Ryan Getzlaf and his wife, Paige Getzlaf, and now hosted by the Terrys, brought together professional athletes, celebrities and community leaders for two days of camaraderie, entertainment and philanthropy.
Joshua “Turbo” Pham, from left, hockey legend Ryan Getzlaf and Hawken Miller turn out in support of CureDuchenne for Muscular Dystrophy research.
(Courtesy of CureDuchenne)
The weekend kicked off with an MVP dinner reception underwritten by Ron Salisbury at Newport’s Cannery Seafood of the Pacific, followed by a full day of golf and fundraising at Monarch Beach Golf Links. The golf day featured appearances by the Anaheim Ducks power players, on-course games, gourmet food and hole-in-one opportunities to win luxury prizes.
“Fifteen years of the Golf Shootout is a powerful testament to what’s possible when a community rallies around a shared mission,” said Debra Miller, founder and chief executive of CureDuchenne.
Dani and Troy Terry hosted and underwrote the annual CureDuchenne golf event and dinner in Orange County.
(Courtesy of CureDuchenne)
“We’re incredibly grateful to Troy and Dani for hosting this incredible event and to every participant, sponsor and supporter who made this year’s event possible,” Miller said. “The funds raised will help us continue investing in promising research, advancing better treatments and driving toward the ultimate goal of a cure for Duchenne.”
To date, the CureDuchenne Golf Shootout has raised more than $7.5 million to help fuel groundbreaking research and accelerate treatments for individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy one of the most common and severe forms of muscular dystrophy.