It was “only” their 34th annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show and luncheon, but it also celebrated 45 continuous years of service to adults with developmental difficulties. On Aug. 20, a whopping 760 friends and supporters of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) gathered at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina for this anniversary event, themed “Big Dreams, Blue Skies.” It honored 93-year-old founder Sister Mary Mardel, and the Kraemer Endowment Foundation (KEF), which ensures their financial future through intelligent investments. SMSC’s six-acre campus in El Cajon now serves an enrollment of nearly 400, up substantially from the original eight students. The event began with boutique shopping and a huge silent auction, after which guests were seated for lunch, the program and the show. A video featuring several SMSC students showed the center’s work. One student, Luis, sang the national anthem as another, Charlie, played the guitar. Glowing city, county and state proclamations praised SMSC’s work. Sister Mardel and KEF chairman John Sieber were duly recognized. Then came a performance of Katy Perry’s “Firework,” performed along the full length of the dual runways by 12 dancers and vocalists from SMSC’s Dance Team and Chorus. The students put tremendous energy into it and while Simon Cowell might perhaps have been critical, the audience loved it, clapping along spontaneously and enthusiastically. After a seven-item live auction, pledges of financial donations were solicited. The most generous was one at $45,000 (honoring the anniversary year); numerous others ranged from $100 to $10,000. The display of fashions began with SMSC student models walking the runway with such community leaders as County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, honorary chair Sally Thornton and family, and dozens more. The students clearly enjoyed their role and the attention the audience gave them. Leonard Simpson’s professional fashion show followed, with 27 models showing a wide range of clothing from 10 boutiques and four fashion schools. Hats and head pieces were prominent accessories, ranging from haute couture to such novelty headwear as piles of Chinese takeout containers with chopsticks for the fashionable ladies and model airplanes for the model men. Stylish music matched the fashions in the hour-long show. Leonard and beautiful daughter Brittany joined the designers and all the models for the finale, which Leonard dedicated “to style and to love and to thanking the wonderful students of St. Madeleine’s.” *** In 1994, La Jollans Sam Armstrong and John Otterson founded the Luau and Longboard Invitational surfing contest. They invited the world’s most famous surfers to team with local longboarders for the contest and event proceeds supported cancer research. Sam and John thought it would be fun, but it involved lots of work, too. Steve Blank’s dedication to the annual event has helped immensely, as has the commitment of numerous other devotees. Over these 18 years, they’ve raised $5.4 million for UCSD’s Moores Cancer Center, including $420,000 from this year, when Corey Reynolds chaired with Taylor Peterson as co-chair. On the eve of the event, a VIP party brought 200 supporters, sponsors and team captains together at the cancer center, where the funds raised will be put to work. Guests enjoyed great food from top purveyors, surf music and the opportunity to meet 34 “surf legends” — pioneers who created surfing as we know it today. Early the next morning, the contest — free for the public to watch — began near the Scripps pier. Musicians and Polynesian dancers entertained. Near midday, the luau began in a huge tented pavilion (sold out, as always, with 550 guests this year). A singer/guitarist performed, followed by dancers from Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue, whose performers entertained on stage and throughout the luau. Tropical beverages were served, and the luau feast prepared by Waters Fine Catering included eight tasty entrées of foods from surf spots around the world. Nobody went hungry — or thirsty. Dr. Dennis Carson, director of the Moores Cancer Center for eight years, stepped down recently to spend more time in the lab (where he already developed a cure for hairy cell leukemia). For his accomplishments in the battle against cancer and his embodiment of the aloha spirit, he received the Rell Sunn Award, given each year at this event. A live auction offered nine items, including several beautiful custom-made surfboards. Generous bidding revealed guests’ desire to give generously to support the event’s worthy cause. The luau closed with the presentation of trophies to the surf contest winners.