BY DONNA BUNCE, REGISTER COLUMNIST

Another 25th anniversary was celebrated on Saturday, as the Women of Chapman (formerly The Fashionable Women of Chapman) held its 25th annual "Christmas at The Ritz" holiday luncheon at the 32-year-old Ritz Restaurant & Garden in Newport Beach. It was 25 years ago that the late Hans Prager and his wife Charlene opened the doors of their famous eatery to the Chapman University support group, and a tradition was born.

Sold out at 380 guests, the holiday soiree, which heralds the season for many of its guests, was chaired by Anne Manassero, who was joined on the red carpet greeting guests by WOC President Kathy Hamilton, Chapman University President Jim Doti and his wife Lynne and grand patrons Julia and George Argyros, as a quartet of Dickens carolers sang songs of the season.

Manassero and her 18-member committee worked diligently for months on the fundraiser, which featured a festive cocktail reception on the restaurant's garden patio, followed by a delicious four-course repast, including the famous Ritz Egg, in the beautifully decorated restaurant. A contingent of gorgeous models paraded through the restaurant's many dining rooms during lunch wearing enticing fashions and furs from Fendi, South Coast Plaza, and stunning jewelry from Lugano Diamonds in Newport Beach. Guests especially enjoyed the 500-slide video running throughout the luncheon, thanks to President Hamilton, which featured members at events throughout the Chapman support group's 40-year history.

Following lunch, the event's two 25th anniversary honorees were feted – Charlene Prager, for helping launch the event with her late husband, and Dori de Kruif, for chairing the first, fifth and tenth fundraisers. Both of them, who remain members of the group, said they were thrilled to see the success of the effort after all these years. They were presented with an 18k yellow gold pin in the shape of the group's logo, an outline of a "fashionable" woman wearing a hat with a diamond in it, thanks to Lugano Diamonds, who created and underwrote them for the honorees.

The highly anticipated opportunity drawing, which sold more than $30,000 in tickets in less than two hours, did not disappoint. Lucky Brenda Carver won twice, taking home The Ritz Wine Cellar gourmet dinner for 20 and the Ann Foster Designs shamballa-style bracelets valued at $1,885. Many luxury items from upscale retailers, lavish overnights, and a martini party for 20 accorded squeals of delight as winners were announced. The $2,000 wine country package, which featured a stay at the renowned Hotel Yountville, with dinner at Thomas Keller's high-rated Bouchon restaurant and exclusive wines and wine tours at top Napa and Sonoma wineries, was won by Sarah Corrigan, while the Grand Prize, a $10,000 pair of diamond earrings from Traditional Jewelers, was won by Shelly Hupp.

The effort netted more than $238,000 for the Women of Chapman, who with the proceeds will complete their $1 million student filmmaker endowment for Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Besides the Argyros's, other major event underwriters included Christy and Lou Marlin, Marybelle and S. Paul Musco, Adrienne and R. J. Brandes, Steve and Shelly Hupp, Kim Smith and the Smith/Walker Foundation, Zee Allred, Janet Curci, Suzanne and Scot Ellingson, Kathy and Noel Hamilton, Donna and Dave Janes, Anne and Dan Manassero, Deedee and Don Sodaro, Donna Bianchi, Sandy Brodie, Donna Calvert, Leslie and Dino Cancellieri, Patti and Jim Edwards, Charlene Prager, Jan Salta, and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network/The Waltos Group.

Fourteen of the former "Christmas at The Ritz" chairs attending the event included de Kruif, Sandy Beigel Chiles, Mary Dell Barkouras, Martha Green, Leslie Cancellieri, Joan Riach-Gayner, Sandi Jackson, Marci Hollander, Charlene Prager, Adrienne Brennan Brandes, Kathy Hamilton, Barbara Eidson, Donna Bianchi, and yours truly.

Event favors included a suede and leather jewelry pouch, stationery and $500 gift certificate from Lugano Diamonds and men's sunglasses from Fendi.

Read the full article at OCRegister.com.