Do what you love. Love what you do. To better the community.: March 2012

Orange County High School of the Arts, 25th Anniversary Gala

That time of year has come again! OCHSA's annual Gala event. Except this year it was something truly special, OCHSA's 25th Anniversary! The school celebrated 25 years in style. Of course our theme was "SILVER!" If it sparkled, you can assume it was part of our event! This year we went digital for our Silent Auction. We used BidPal, a company that gives each guest (or couple) an Ipod Touch that has an app installed that has been linked with all of the auction items. This allows guests to bid on items from virtually anywhere. While there were some issues with the devices and set up of the program, overall it was very successful!

This event was held March 10, 2012 a the Hyatt Regency- Irvine

Here is an overview of the incredibly talented students at OCHSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmCY8dMjgqI

First things First, this event could not have been possible without our amazing sponsors! Audi of America and Omega

Friday we began to set up our Registration area and Silent Auction tent. -The registration area also holds all of the artwork that was being auctioned off in our Silent Auction.

The Silent Auction tent

The final product of the Auction tent!

These lamps were placed around the room to add additional lighting to the room (and of course they were "bling-ed" out!)

The night of the event, our registration tent!

Who doesn't love an ice bar?!?

Signature cocktails

The Grand Ballroom

Table setting with salads pre set before guests arrive

Gobo lighting on the sidewalls

Center Pieces... SPARKLE!!

The stage! Of course we had to add some sparkle to the stage as well

The reason we do it all! A few of the amazing students from the Orange County High School of the Arts.

A HUGE congratulations to OCHSA on 25 years of excellence- and on raising more than ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

Dinner in Sardinia!

Who doesn't love Italian food?!?

In November I was asked to come on board at OCHSA and help with events, for a little while, for the 25th Anniversary year, of course I said yes! The school is starting a culinary program Fall of 2012 and we were approached by one of our donors to host a dinner to help fundraise for the new program. Two incredible chefs were flown in from Sardinia Italy to prepare this $1,000 a per person seven course meal! We wanted to make this event truly feel like you were transported to Italy.

Before I go into the look of the event, take a look at the FOOD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgFRXY3tc9k

This was the beginning of set-up. This event was held at the Margret Webb Theatre Event Center.

You can't have an Italian event without wine! - The wine bottles with candles were also used as center pieces in the dinning room, they also scattered on highboys in the lobby for a cocktail reception.

Table settings

Here is a better view of the individual setting and the center piece

The menu card- as you can see the meal was quite filling!

Patron gifts that were also used for oil and seasoning for bread. Created by OCHSA Visual Arts Conservatory assistant director Randy Au.

This was a fabulous event filled with wonderful food for an amazing cause! I cannot wait to see what the Culinary program is going to become!

Orange County High School of the Arts, Gala 2011

As a senior at Chapman University, I needed ONE more unit to graduate. I thought about taking another class but then it occurred to me, why not find an internship, something I love to do. As a graduate from the Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) I knew that their annual Gala was coming up and I figured it was worth seeing if I could work on Gala as my internship.

I walked into the office on the first day, and knew it was going to be a fun. I hit it off right away with their event planner, Lori Kij. I was told I would be focusing on the silent auction portion of the event. This is the first about hour and a half of the event.

The event was held March, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine.

The Silent Auction was held in a large tented space. Items, table tents and bidder sheets with pens lined the room with the "super silent" items in the center of the room.