Celebration Ball 2013

Celebration Ball, May 19, 2013

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On Sunday, May 19, 2013 the JCC Celebration Ball celebrated the Spirit of Maccabi by honoring the achievements of Hoag Hospital, Jason Lezak and Wendy Stark for their commitment and service to the JCC Maccabi Games® and ArtsFest®.

The JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest, the largest Jewish youth event in the world, will be hosted by the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County August 4-9, 2013, and will welcome over 2,000 visiting Jewish teens from across the globe and involve thousands of members from our own community including 800 host families, 1,500 volunteers and 350 teen athletes/artists.

This year, the Celebration Ball honored Hoag Hospital for its spirit of collaboration by making the highest quality healthcare available to the community and for their steadfast support of the 2013 JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest; eight-time Olympic medalist Jason Lezak for exemplifying the spirit of healthy competition through his remarkable achievements as a world-class swimmer and team player; and Wendy Stark for her enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to building community.

The Ball was held on Sunday May 19 at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach.  Ball co-chairs were Adrienne Matros and Hal Altman.  Proceeds from the Celebration Ball will benefit JCC scholarships for summer camps, including the 2013 JCC Maccabi games® and ArtsFest®, as well as preschool and after school programs.

Competition – Jason Lezak

The spirit of healthy competition – doing one’s best while promoting teamwork and positive participation – is exemplified by Jason Lezak. This Olympic, Maccabiah and JCC Maccabi Games gold medalist is a highly respected athlete and is being honored for his inspiring leadership in motivating many young athletes to achieve their best.

Community – Wendy Stark

A passionate advocate for building community, Wendy Stark has been making a difference in Orange County for more than 20 years. A former industrial designer, Wendy brings and abundance of creativity and ingenuity to her volunteer efforts and is being honored for her enthusiastic leadership in helping build a vibrant Jewish community and thriving Jewish Community Center in Orange County.

Collaboration – Hoag Hospital

The spirit of collaboration – combining efforts and working together for a greater good – is exemplified by Hoag Hospital. Hoag serves the community by offering a comprehensive blend of health care and specialized services. Hoag is being honored a leading regional health care delivery network, and for aligning with numerous community organizations to help foster the healthy growth and development of youth and the underserved in Orange County.