Taylir Gregory, Randi Shannahan and Carola Strozzi PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Tracy and Mike Bilek PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Rob and Susie Roof PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Amber Offield, Jena Offield, Leigh Ann Donovan and Ashley Worvarka PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Montage Laguna Beach’s oceanfront lawn PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Guests enjoyed a wine selection from Trinitas Cellars. PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
Jill and Tom Schriber PHOTO BY PIXEL THAT! PHOTOGRAPHY
THE PARTY J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center lassoed 250 of its advocates and supporters for a seaside evening at Montage Laguna Beach’s Pacific Lawn for its annual gala, Surprise and Delight: An Evening of Gratitude. THE PEOPLE Guests, like Tracy and Mike Bilek, were welcomed to the fete by gala committee chair Susie Roof, chief development officer Agnes McGlone Swanson, CEO Dana Butler-Moburg and board chair Susan Chaney-Purel. A wine wall and tequila tasting station offered attendees sweet sips while a caricature artist, personalized haiku poems and more than 150 silent auction items added unique touches to the evening. THE PINNACLE As partygoers indulged in grilled filet mignon and Chilean sea bass, followed by chocolate lemon cake for dessert, auctioneer Jim Nye kicked things up a notch with live auction items ranging from a trip to Paris to a wine-paired dinner at Monarch Bay Beach Club for 10. In total, the night ponied up more than $600,000 for the center and its equine-driven therapies for the disabled.