The Newport Beach Museum on Balboa Island held an end of the summer season event on the Newport waterfront. Billed as “Soirée on the Bay,” the September 23 evening hosted and underwritten by Newport Beach developer and hotelier Bob Olson unfolded at his expansive bayfront estate on Lido Isle.
The event welcomed some 150 museum patrons, raising $100,000 in support of Newport Beach Museum programs, exhibits, education, archival research, and preservation.
Event producer and local celebrity restaurateur Cynthia Shafer addressed the crowd.
“The Museum is sincerely grateful for the generosity of our host, Bob Olson, who opened his home and celebrated the formal launch of the rebranded Newport Beach Museum, Balboa Island. Since its official name change with expanded growth in the community announced last month, this event sets us on an exciting new course.”
Shafer continued, “We also honor and appreciate our good friend and major supporter Seymour Beek, making available his famous Balboa Island Ferry delivering guests to the Olson party tonight.”
Applause rang out in the upbeat crowd from VIP guests fronted by Museum Founder and Chair Shirley Pepys, attending with family, including daughters Tiffany Pepys Hoey, executive director of the Museum and co-producer of the event, and daughter Renée Pepys Lowe, husband Stan Lowe, and their daughters Catherine and Courtney Lowe. Joining his mother was son Noel Pepys and his wife Liz.
Shirley Pepys commented, “The Olson generosity is world-class. This means so much for the Museum. We could not be more appreciative. The best party of the summer!”
A silent auction curated by Tiffany Pepys Hoey offered guests the opportunity to purchase private dinner parties in the Newport Beach Museum, a lavish cocktail evening in the iconic John Lautner-designed bayfront home of Dr. and Mrs. Dan Abbott on Balboa Island, original art, and local Orange County VIP sports packages with the OC Ducks, donated by Museum President of the Board John Conners and his wife Diana.
To learn more visit www.nbmuseum.org.
