Gloria Zigner to be Honored at 13th Annual Orange County Arts Awards

IRVINE, CA, September 13, 2012

Gloria Zigner is recognized as a cultural icon in Orange County stemming from her 20 years as the society editor of Orange Coast Magazine. But more importantly, she is known as the founder and executive producer of the legendary CHOC Follies, for which she will be honored at the 13th Annual Orange County Arts Awards. The event will be held at the Samueli Theater, Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 7:30 p.m., following a reception and dinner at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge at 5:30 p.m.

Zigner will receive the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Community Visionary for her exemplary work with The CHOC Follies. For 15 years, the CHOC Follies has featured casts of 100 Orange County business, civic and society leaders who act, sing and dance to raise money for CHOC Children's. To date, the popular show has netted more than $6 million for the Orange County pediatric hospital.

"There's no question that The CHOC Follies is a phenomenon. It's really Gloria's brainchild," said Richard Stein, executive director or Arts Orange County. "She conceived it and has driven it over the years to be a tremendous unifying force for the community."

"I am so deeply thrilled to receive this honor," said Zigner. "The CHOC Follies is so dear to my heart, and the success of the Follies is the result of the dedication and perseverance of an amazingly talented team of people, many of whom have been on board since the first year. And now we're gearing up for our 16th show in the spring, "Viva CHOC Vegas: Guys, Gals & Romance in the Land of Lady Luck," which I can assure you will be the best production yet! So get ready to hear from me, because we can't do it without our wonderful Orange County cast members, sponsors and donors.

Zigner and her fellow honorees including Douglas C. Rankin, William and Barbara Roberts, and Elizabeth Turk, will be presented with the award at the annual fundraiser for Arts Orange County (http://artsoc.org), the leader in building appreciation of, participation in, and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County. For more information, please go to the Orange County Arts Award website (http://artsoc.org/awards).