A beautiful, warm night heralded Oceana’s second annual SeaChange Summer Party Saturday at Bruce and Karen Cahill’s palatial estate high in the Laguna hills.
The sold-out affair drew 400 guests to support the largest ocean protection group in the world dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. Chairing the effort were Oceana board members Valerie Whiting and actorTed Danson, who merged the American Ocean’s Campaign he founded in 1987 with Oceana in 2001. Danson had some last-minute news about ocean preservation, saying, “I’m thrilled that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce issued a final ruling this week that closed U.S./Arctic waters to commercial fishing until it can be proven to be sustainable.” Guests were atwitter as assorted stars arrived to support the effort and flashbulbs popped. Chief among them were actors Glenn Close andMorgan Freeman, who were the evening’s honorees. Also attending was Olympic Gold Medalist Aaron Peirsol, actors Harrison Ford(last year’s honoree), Jeff Goldblum, Kate Walsh, Anne Heche and husband James Tupper, director Penny Marshall, former top model Lauren Hutton, and the two young stars that sent the younger set’s hearts aflutter – Sam Trammell of HBO’s “True Blood” and Mark-Paul Gosselaar of ABC’s “NYPD Blue” fame. Guests gathered on the estate’s many balconies for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while perusing the over-the-top silent auction items. Chief among them were some great items from South Coast Plaza’s luxury boutiques, while private jeweler Mona Lee Nesseth rallied her jewelry friends to showcase an amazing assortment of jewelry offerings, including offerings from the world’s three most important pearl farms &ndash Robert Wan of Tahiti, Jewelmer of the Philippines and a VIP tour of the Paspaley Pearl Farm on the Kimberly Coast of Australia valued at $25,250. Marisa Goebel La Belle’s”TerraLlora” (Earth Weeps) Pendant, which she only creates for environmental charity events, was a knockout!
Dinner on the lower lawn with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean was quite the scene, as The Kitchen for Exploring Foods catered a delicious three course repast with top-notch service prior to the awards presentation. Auctioneer Mark Drilling of Stoke’s Auction Group led a spirited live auction, which saw Christie Walton win a one-week stay at Sting andTrudie Styler’s Tuscan estate for $100,000, Glenn andMindy Stearns a phenomenal dinner for 14 prepared by award-winning chef Charlie Palmer for $9,500 and actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar a 2010 Toyota Prius V for $32,000. Lucky winners of the opportunity prizes included William Dobkin for the $25,000 South Seas baroque pearl, sapphire, topaz and diamond necklace and matching earrings, generously donated by Lugano Diamonds (his wife Donya was one happy lady!), and Milena Panic for the $1,000 South Coast Plaza shopping spree, one-year valet pass, Morton’s Steakhouse dinner and one-night stay at The Westin South Coast Plaza.