RECENTLY HERITAGE POINTE, an independent, assisted-living and memory care Senior community, hosted its highly-anticipated 27th Annual Luncheon & Shopping Boutique with a sold-out crowd at the Irvine Marriott Hotel in Irvine. Co-chaired by Donna Markovitz and Gail Taleisnik, the event featured best-selling Author and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Ron Suskind.
“There was incredible energy throughout the day at our Spring Luncheon & Boutique this year, commented Mike Silverman, CEO of Heritage Pointe. The shopping was exceptional and the speaker, Ron Suskind, spoke to the crowd from his heart.
“His story was captivating and with each and every high and low he explained about his family’s jour-ney, he took the guests with him, and we all felt a part of his family. An outstanding experience,” Silverman continued.
You could hear a pin drop as Suskind had the over 400 guests in attendance riveted as he shared his personal, highly emotional, and inspirational story about his family’s twenty year struggle with his youngest son Owen, is on the autism spectrum and who lost his speech at age
3. This story is chronicled in his sixth book, entitled “Life, Animated: a Tale of Sidekicks Heroes and Autism” which Suskind adapted into a documentary film that was nominated this year for an Academy Award. During his presentation, Suskind shared his family’s two-decade long journey using a technique called “Affinity Therapy.” As a reporter and senior national affairs journalist for the Wall Street Journal, Ron Suskind built a respected national reputation for his Washington, D.C. reporting. His front page investigative features on poverty, race, and class in America won a Pulitzer Price in 1995.
The extensive Shopping Boutique, showcasing over 20 vendors, offered something for everyone, and featured all types of leisure clothing, elegant fashions, accessories, handbags, all types of unique jewelry, gift-wares, food products, and home accessories.
“Heritage Pointe is appreciative of having the community join together in celebration of this fabulous annual event,” stated Beth Slavin, Director of Philanthropy for Heritage Pointe. “The uniqueness of combining a major boutique, luncheon, and keynote speaker has awarded Heritage Pointe a place on Orange County’s social calendar that draws men and women throughout the county. We thank the community for at-tending and supporting Heritage Pointe, and look forward to our 28th Annual Luncheon & Boutique next year. I am delighted to confirm that both our co-chairs this year, Donna Markovitz and Gail Taleisnik, have graciously agreed to chair next year’s event,” Slavin continued.
Corporate sponsors included Grandparent’s Autism Network, My Mother Loved Flowers, Sterling Carpet & Flooring/Mandel Family, and Yorba Linda Pharmacy. Table sponsors included Careline Homecare Services, Sandy Fainbarg, Bonnie Gillman, Adrienne Matros, Toni McDonald, and Elana & Jeff Samson.
Media Sponsors were Newport Beach Independent and Newport Beach Magazine.
“The Heritage Pointe Luncheon & Shopping Boutique has become a highly-anticipated tradition, and we are pleased again this year that our community supported it,” stated co-chairs Markovitz and Taleisnik. “Heritage Pointe relies on the proceeds from this event to provide financial assistance to those who reside at our amazing Senior community,” they continued.
Seen in the crowd were Judy Binder, Nancy Chase, Jill Edwards, Roberta Feuerstein, Jane Fischel, Hannareta Fishman, Alison Goldenberg, Ellie Gordon, Adrienne Green, Jodi Greenbaum, EllieJaffy, Lauren Klein, Dor-othy Leshner, Debbie Margolis, Nancy Meyer, Cindy Mirsky, Ann Mos-kowitz, Allison Pinsky, Meryl Schrimmer, Sonia Silverstein, Roz Vogel-fanger and Charlene Zuckerman.
For more information on Heritage Pointe please call 949-364-9685 or visit www.heritagepointe.org
