Orange County families gathered in Newport Coast over the weekend for a festive event that featured fun, food and fundraising.
Hundreds turned out Sunday at the Newport Coast Community Center for a holiday carnival hosted by the MOMS Club of Newport Coast, a local chapter of the International Moms Offering Moms Support. Guests included councilman Keith Curry and Newport Beach Fire Department firefighters from the local Newport Coast station.
The event raised more than $10,000 for the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps families worldwide whose children suffer from a genetic form of autism and other developmental delays.
The club spent months preparing for the event and seeking donations from local businesses because one of its members, Briana Vartanian, has a child, Lola, 7, diagnosed with PMS.
“I was overwhelmed by the turnout of moms and families coming together to support such a great cause,” Vartanian said.
Attendees enjoyed carnival games, a bounce house, face painting and balloons, food from local restaurants, holiday crafts, playball activities for kids, and a silent auction.
For more information on the Phelan McDermid Syndrome Foundation, visit http://22q13.org/j15/
— All photos by Charles Weinberg
