The Crowd: Women of Chapman hold 38th annual luncheon in support of the Fullerton university
One final nod to the holidays as January fades into February: A longstanding tradition cherished by donors supporting Chapman University unfolded for a 38th holiday celebration luncheon held at the Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach.
Some 300 guests enjoyed 'Christmas at the Ritz' hosted by the Women of Chapman, a 54-year-old philanthropic group currently led by Lisa Hallaian. Joining event chair Kristi Jacob were 'Ritz' committee members Donna Bunce, Adrienne Brandes, Janet Curci, Sue Hook, Kathy Hamilton and Kristin Martin.
Also among the dedicated were Leslie Cancellieri, Mona Lee Nesseth, Sheri Nazaroff, Donna Bianchi, Robin Follman and Cynthia De Baun. Chapman liaison Erin Peltier, director of support groups at the university was front and center with current Chapman President Daniele Struppa.
Together, the committee and attendees rallied to raise some $300,000 at the party amid the Balboa Bay Club's traditional holiday red, green and gold décor. To date, Women of Chapman have raised and donated more than $10 million. Currently, the group is completing a $1-million pledge to Chapman's Keck Center for Science and Engineering and also to the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Sciences Campus. An additional $1-million pledge will fund Chapman Women's Student Assistance Fund.
A bit of backstory reminds readers of the former Newport Ritz Restaurant and its dynamic and talented, late founder Hans Prager. A fixture on the social scene for several decades, the Ritz at Fashion Island closed in 2014, but the legacy is etched in the memory of thousands of patrons who gathered for occasions of every kind under the tutelage and culinary expertise of Prager and his staff.
As a shout out to that legacy, every holiday season when 'Christmas at the Ritz' is reinvented in a new location, the Prager menu is served, beginning with his famous 'Ritz Egg' (scrambled egg, smoked salmon, topped with caviar and placed into a hollowed eggshell) and served with fine champagne (or a shot of vodka). Wild mushroom cappuccino soup follows, preceding an entree of either goose, braised short-ribs or Chilean seabass. Dessert is a showpiece as a profiterole tower is served at each table.
A wild and crazy live auction held at this year's event featured fabulous items, including celebrity-level travel to places including Aspen and New York City. There were dining experiences at Newport's finest dining rooms. A tour of the Reagan Library hosted by the late president's son Michael Reagan raised the bar. Spotted in the luncheon crowd of bidders were additional Women of Chapman event committee members Jacqui Penner, Anita Seiveley, Marci Sorensen, Susan Tuttle, Susan Villeneuve and Holli Winterhalter. Shelly Angel was there too, as were Jane Bigcas, Sheral Burke, Donna Di Bari, Barbara Eidson, Donna Hood, Michelle Highberg, Lauren Johnson, Melinda Kartsonis, Mikey Lares and Mary Murley.
Highlighting the occasion came the announcement of a new university president to succeed Struppa upon his retirement at the end of this summer. The Chapman Board of Trustees selected Matt Parlow to serve as the 14th leader of the university. Rousing applause followed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Group considers bids to divest Latin American unit
US health insurer UnitedHealth Group is considering multiple bids to offload its operations in Latin America, reported Reuters, citing sources. The insurer has been attempting to divest its Latin American assets since 2022, following losses exceeding $8bn in the region, the report said. The news agency further noted that the urgency to sell its subsidiary Banmedica, which operates in Colombia and Chile, has intensified in recent months due to financial pressures on multiple fronts. The company has already exited its operations in Brazil and Peru and is now focusing on securing a deal for its Colombian and Chilean operations. Currently, UnitedHealth has received four non-binding bids for Banmedica, estimated at around $1bn. The bidding entities are Acon Investments, Patria Investments, Christus Health and Auna from Lima. Auna is reportedly in discussions with a financial partner to strengthen its bid. UnitedHealth acquired Banmedica in 2018, with then-CEO David Wichmann expressing a long-term vision for growth in South America. However, the insurer decided to withdraw from the region three years later due to losses, particularly from its Brazilian operation, Amil. Despite Banmedica being profitable, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of more than $200m, it is deemed too small for UnitedHealth's interests. Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual is said to be advising UnitedHealth on the sale process. UnitedHealth expects to set a deadline for binding proposals for Banmedica by July, as it seeks to streamline its operations and focus on more profitable markets. The company bounced back to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, with net earnings of $6.4bn, compared with a net loss of $1.2bn in the same period a year ago. Stephen Hemsley took over the role of group CEO from Andrew Witty in May. "UnitedHealth Group considers bids to divest Latin American unit " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Newsweek
Retail Layoffs Soar Nearly 300% So Far This Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Retail layoffs have soared in 2025, driven by new economic difficulties for the sector, its long term battles with reduced foot traffic, and the growing dominance of e-commerce, according to analysis by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas (CGC). In May, retailers announced 11,483 job cuts, up from 7,235 in the previous month. This brings the total this year to 75,802 for the sector, up 274 percent from the 20,276 cuts announced in the first five months of 2024. Why It Matters CGC attributed layoffs across all sectors last month to the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs, as well as persistent "economic pessimism" and the broader decline in consumer confidence. These recent developments have compounded with the longer-term decline in foot traffic and rise of online shopping that have for years plagued the retail sector — the nation's largest private sector employer, according to the National Retail Federation, which supports over one-in-four American jobs. What To Know Overall, total U.S. announced job cuts dropped 12 percent in May to 93,816, from 105,441 in April. However, this figure was still up 47 percent from the same month last year. In 2025, employers have announced 696,309 job cuts, up 80 percent from the 385,859 announced in the first five months of last year. As CGC noted, it would take only 65,049 cuts to surpass the total announced in 2024. The services sector led the way last month, with 22,492 cuts amounting for the highest monthly figure since May 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only government job cuts have surpassed those seen in the retail sector this year, owing primarily to the aggressive cost-cutting efforts pursued by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Shown is Walmart retail location in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Shown is Walmart retail location in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Matt Rourke/AP Photo Several prominent retailers have announced layoffs in recent weeks, including Nike, pharmacy chain CVS and Walmart, which confirmed to Newsweek that nearly 1,500 employees would be let go in a restructuring push aimed at improving company-wide efficiencies. CGC's report came ahead of the official Non-Farm Payrolls data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed a decline in new jobs to 139,000 from 147,000 in April. The results were weighed down by the loss of 22,000 federal workers, though the unemployment rate remained flat at 4.2 percent. In the private sector, hiring has failed to keep up with the pace of job cuts, according to two recent reports from payroll firm ADP and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which showed the pace of hiring slowing in May and small businesses reporting persistently low levels of job openings. What People Are Saying Andrew Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas said: "Tariffs, funding cuts, consumer spending, and overall economic pessimism are putting intense pressure on companies' workforces. Companies are spending less, slowing hiring, and sending layoff notices." Nicole Leinbach Hoffman, founder and president of and STIMULATE: A B2B Sexual Wellness Trade Show, told Newsweek: "Supply chain disruptions, increased competition, and changing consumer habits - including online buying - are all strong influencers to the challenges facing retailers and more so, why many merchants are increasing their layoffs. Keeping this in mind, the real reason, however, is that these same merchants may not have pivoted as effectively as needed during these challenges to withstand the current stresses in retail and thus, layoffs are the result. Being proactive to be profitable should always be the goal of a retailers, and timing is a big part of this reality." What Happens Next? According to CGC, American employers have announced 79,741 planned hires in the year so far, up 57 percent from 2024. However, the firm noted that this figure remains "historically low when compared to pre-pandemic and early-pandemic years."
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Miami Herald
China EV company ignites surprising jobs controversy in U.S.
Jim Chapman, newly appointed township supervisor of Green Charter Township in Western Michigan, quickly realized that his responsibilities extended beyond simple governance. His town, a small rural community, had faced economic decline for decades. Many young residents left searching for better opportunities, leaving behind an aging population with limited prospects. But in the summer of 2022, Chapman learned of a potential game-changing investment - a major international electric vehicle battery manufacturer planned to build a factory in town. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter With a price tag of $2.4 billion and the promise of more than 2,000 well-paying jobs, Chapman saw the project as the kind of economic revival the town desperately needed. Related: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary makes bold prediction on U.S. economy As plans advanced, Chapman discovered that the company behind the factory was Gotion, an American subsidiary of a Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer. The company had grown rapidly, benefiting from China's push into the EV market and strategic expansions into the U.S. By 2023, Chapman had facilitated infrastructure improvements, and Gotion secured state subsidies to make the project viable. Initially, he believed concerns about the company's origins were secondary to the economic benefits. He remained committed to bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., seeing it as aligned with broader American economic goals. Opposition emerged when residents learned of the plan through grassroots efforts. Local realtor Lori Brock received an anonymous warning, prompting her and many others to attend township meetings. Crowds packed the venue, and for four hours, townspeople vented their frustration, accusing officials of pushing the project without transparency. Environmental concerns dominated the discourse - citizens worried about water consumption and potential contamination risks. Skeptical of Gotion's assurances, the community feared the factory would permanently alter their way of life. "I listened to four hours of straight public comment ridiculing him (Chapman), just screaming at the whole board, telling them how unethical they were and horrible people and how they were a disgrace," Brock told NPR in an intriguing, lengthy Planet Money report. "I mean, four hours of it, just irate people." More on the U.S. economy: Dave Ramsey sounds alarm for Americans on Social SecurityScott Galloway warns Americans on 401(k), US economy threatShark Tank's Kevin O'Leary has message on Social Security, 401(k)s Residents also questioned whether the promised jobs would resemble the union positions that once defined Michigan's automotive industry. They doubted whether local workers would truly benefit from the factory's presence. As debates intensified, Chapman's vision of economic renewal transformed into a political battleground. What seemingly began as a hopeful opportunity to restore prosperity to Green Charter Township became an emblem of the tensions between globalization and small-town values, exposing deeper concerns about the industries communities want shaping their futures. Related: Dave Ramsey sends strong statement on Costco A major issue in the heated debate was Gotion's connection to China. Many residents saw China as a geopolitical adversary and questioned why the U.S. should subsidize a Chinese-owned company. The feared that Gotion could be a Trojan horse for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) fueled outrage, with concerns about potential infiltration of a local cybersecurity program. Gotion's articles of incorporation in China contained standard party activity agreements, but company representatives insisted its U.S. operations were independent. Opponents, known as the No Go movement, accused Chapman and his board of corruption, NPR reported. As tensions mounted, the No Go movement coalesced around a strategy - recalling Chapman and his board members from office. By the fall of 2023, their efforts materialized into a recall election, aiming to take control of the local government and stop the factory's construction. Their campaign was highly organized, featuring door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and even political advertisements. With support from prominent Republican politicians, No Go activists gained traction. In early 2024, Green Charter Township held its recall vote, resulting in Chapman and his entire board being ousted. The newly elected No Go politicians swiftly moved to block the factory. In response, Gotion sued the township, leaving the project in limbo. Chapman still hopes the plant will open and believes the factory would bring much-needed economic growth, according to NPR, while Brock maintains that manufacturing belongs in the U.S. - just not this factory in this town. Related: Scott Galloway sends bold statement on Social Security, US economy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
