Petal to the Medal

Petal power was palpable when the Dream Foundation hosted its 13th annual Flower Empower lunch for 200 guests at the Rosewood Miramar, raising around $160,000 for the Santa Barbara-based program that delivers colorful bouquets and handmade cards to hospitals, cancer centers and homes every week.

Since it started in 1994, the program had made more than 130,000 special deliveries with cookies baked by Robin Himovitz and artisanal chocolates from Chocolats du CaliBressan.

The ubiquitous Andrew Firestone, accompanied by his daughter Anja, 13, emceed the fun fête and conducted the auction as well – which included a stay at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills snapped up for $3,500, a vacation at the Four Seasons in Maui which sold for $10,500, and seven nights at a private villa in Croatia, which went for $6,500.

David Sparer was honored as Volunteer of the Year, Alex Van Wingerden of Gallup & Stribling Orchids as Grower of the Year, and cousins Chloe, Luca, and Matteo Bottorff, and Natasha and Alina Stapf as Youth Volunteers of the Year.

John and Pam Johnston were recipient speakers.

Among the horde of supporters were CEO Kisa Heyer, Joe Cole, Kate Coppola, Kristi Newton, Alison Hansen, Ivana Firestone, George and Laurie Leis, Frank Tabar, and Linda Plant.

A blooming good time was had by all…