Hearts, Hope, and Rona

Legendary TV gossipeuse Rona Barrett was the first award recipient at the Alzheimer’s Association’s inaugural Hearts & Hope Garden Soirée at the impeccably manicured 40-acre Hope Ranch estate of Jerry and Geri Bidwell with 90 sun-soaked wine-swilling guests.

The boffo bash – co-chaired by Brenda Blalock, Cathy Cash, and Tony Morris – bestowed upon Rona the handsome crystal trophy for her decades of work with low-income senior citizens. Her good friend actress Bo Derek presented the award.

Four members of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony entertained, with guests including Central Coast Alzheimer’s Board President Jill Rushing Fonte, ED Jill Shaffer, Development Director Krista Papageorge Fields, Derek’s husband John Corbett, Anne Towbes, Dana Hansen, Brendon Twigden, Grace Yoon, Hiroko Benko, Mara Abboud, Dana Newquist, Andrew and Amza Bossom, Maria McCall, Peter Martin, Houghton Hyatt, Dolores Johnson, Easter Moorman, and Gail Kvistad.

A delightfully memorable afternoon…