For the ladies who make up the Women of Chapman, the holiday season doesn’t officially begin until the Christmas at The Ritz luncheon. It’s a decades-old annual tradition dating back to the days of The Ritz, a once-iconic restaurant that had been the regular host for the fete. The Ritz closed its Newport Center operation in 2014, but the event named in its honor continues. This year, 275 guests gathered at the Balboa Bay Resort for the afternoon, which raises money for Chapman University scholarships. Executive Chef Diego Bernal curated a delicious lunch that paid homage to The Ritz’s traditional cuisine. Live and silent auctions delighted the well-heeled group. Women of Chapman member Robin Follman wowed the crowd with a repertoire of holiday songs. And Mina Beattie, the recipient of last year’s Women of Chapman scholarship, delivered a heartfelt speech.
Since 1971, the Women of Chapman have donated more than $10 million to the university, and Christmas at The Ritz typically nets more than $280,000 through sponsorships, auctions, and opportunity drawings.
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