NINE HONORED FOR GREATEST GIFT TO OTHERS

With the exception of the Girl Scouts color guard, Megan Mahdi of Laguna Niguel was easily the youngest person in the room at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon honoring Orange County's top philanthropists.

But Megan, 15 years old, held her own before an audience of about 900 guests to salute honorees that included such megawatt beacons of local charity. The distinguised awards included:

• Donald Bren, the chairman of the Irvine Company, has given more than $1.3 billion focused in the areas of education, conservation and research.  Univeristy fo California in Irvine has received over $60 million from Bren.
• Marion Knott has donated to Orange County arts, science and healthcare organizations, including $8 million to Chapman University.
• Phil and Mary Lyons have given financial support and many volunteer hours to Orange County arts programs, including the Pacific Symphony.
• Jerri Rosen founded Working Wardrobes, a nonprofit that helps unemployed women with professional "wardrobing" and career development services.

Paradise Delight, Orange County's leading floral and special events designer, was honored to be part of the design for the celebration.