Holiday helpers

Suzie Harrison

Woody’s at the Beach’s seventh annual Wreath Auction fundraiser for

Shanti Orange County will mix holiday merriment while raising

critical funds for those living with HIV/AIDS.

“We started it the first year we opened and stole the idea from a

bar out in Palm Springs,” Woody’s owner Joel Herzer said. “We saw how

successful it was in raising money for AIDS programs and we thought

we could bring it to Laguna Beach, since no one was doing it for the

holidays.”

The wreath auction has raised about $90,000 thus far and 100% of

the proceeds are donated to Shanti Orange County.

Shanti Orange County executive director Steve Schmitz said the

timing of the wreath auction is important to the organization.

This time of year is when the AIDS organization is most pressed

for money Schmitz said.

“For us it’s a substantial portion of the budget,” Schmitz said.

“When it comes to the spirit of the things we do during the holidays

we wouldn’t be able to do any of it if Woody’s didn’t sponsor this

event,” Schmitz said. “We rely on the financial support.”

Schmitz said that for the small agency that they are, they have a

lot of holiday activities for Shanti’s clients.

“We give wreaths, gift baskets and have a holiday party and a

great deal of psychological support,” Schmitz said.

Herzer said the event is so popular that Woody’s is packed wall to

wall.

“Usually we get about 30 wreaths to auction,” Herzer said. “Last

year the highest bid was a wreath with a trip included, donated by

John Madison and John Ponce. It went for $6,500.”

Another high-end wreath covered with gift certificates from Laguna

merchants fetched $3,000. Herzer said prices vary from $1,200 to $300

with some less than $100.

Creativity is not something that has been lost in the wreath

making process over the years.

“One year a wreath was made entirely out of high heels, another

was made out of tin, one was car parts welded together and one was

made from cowboy boots,” Herzer said. “It’s stuff that’s

one-of-a-kind that you can’t see anywhere else.”

Last year the event raised $20,000. Herzer hopes to be able to

donate at least that amount from this year’s auction.

Shanti Orange County offers diverse services to its clients and

relies heavily on events such as the wreath auction to sustain its

capabilities.

“About 100 clients use our counseling services, 19,000 meals are delivered to people in the community a year and we fund about 1,500

case management appointments for people,” Schmitz said.

Herzer said the fundraiser has been ingrained in the community’s

mind. He said people look forward to it and ask when it’s going to

happen each year.

“It’s what Christmas is all about for us, getting everyone

together and being able to raise money for Shanti OC is all the

better,” Herzer said. “We’re happy to be able to continue what has

become a tradition for us every year.”

The auction will be 8 p.m. Tuesday at Woody’s at the Beach, 1305

S. Coast Highway. To donate a wreath or for information, call Joel

Herzer at Woody’s at the Beach at (949) 376-8809.