Crystal Cove Conservancy Raises $880,000 for Education and Conservation at 2025 Endless Summer Soirée
(President & CEO Kate Wheeler welcomes guests during the reception.)
Crystal Cove State Park (October 8, 2025) —On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Crystal Cove Conservancy (The Conservancy) welcomed more than 250 guests to the blufftop of Crystal Cove State Park’s Pelican Point for its 26th Annual Endless Summer Soirée. The event raised a record-breaking $880,000 to support The Conservancy’s STEM education programs and its ongoing work to protect and preserve Crystal Cove State Park.
As the sun set over the Pacific, guests enjoyed a coastal-inspired evening featuring a cocktail reception, al fresco dining, a spirited live auction, and dancing beneath the stars. The night was filled with memorable highlights, including remarks from Armando Quintero, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and an inspiring message from Kate Wheeler, President & CEO of Crystal Cove Conservancy, who reflected on the impact of walking alongside the community in sustaining Crystal Cove’s legacy.
“Crystal Cove may be our home base, but the impact of this work doesn’t stop at the trailhead. What we do here turns people into park people and that ripples outward across communities, across coastlines, and across generations,” said Wheeler.
Guests bid enthusiastically on unique experiences that celebrate the intersection of art, nature, and community. From a Laguna Beach retreat paired with original local artwork exclusives, to a Surf, Story & Stewardship evening honoring the film Five Summer Stories, to a luxury backcountry escape in a vintage Airstream at Moro Canyon. The evening’s spirited live auction and paddle raise helped drive the record-breaking total.
(Armando Quintero, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation gives remarks to Soiree attendees.)
Funds raised during the Soirée will directly support The Conservancy’s STEM education programs, which bring thousands of students—many from Title I schools—to Crystal Cove State Park each year. Through hands-on learning experiences, students explore tidepools, plant native seedlings, code soil sensors, and build environmental robots, all while working alongside scientists and educators in a living classroom. These immersive experiences spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.
Surrounded by the very landscape they strive to protect, guests were reminded that every moment at Crystal Cove State Park, whether under the stars or in the classroom, helps ensure that California’s coast remains a place of discovery and connection for generations to come.
Building on this record-breaking success, The Conservancy will continue to expand access to outdoor education and conservation programs in 2026, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, can experience the wonder and science of Crystal Cove State Park.
This year’s Endless Summer Soirée was made possible through the generosity of its sponsors and supporters, including:
The Marisla Foundation, as the $150,000 match sponsor for the evening, Eva and Doug Le Bon, Christine L. Carr LoveLight, Michael and Tricia Berns, Anonymous, Mara and Keith Murray, Karen and Eric Steen, Shelley Thunen, Glenn Bozarth, Confidence Foundation, Laura Davick, Michelle and Tim Dean, Hexberg Family Foundation, Stephanie Quesada and Vincent Jackson, Teddie Ray, Wendy and Fred Salter, Sally and Michael Schreter, Sheets, Paquette and Wu Dental Practice, The Robert R. Sprague Foundation, Cyd and Steve Swerdlow, Monette and Steve Zotovich, Anonymous, Meriam Braselle, Jacquie and Michael Casey, Paula and Jeff Cole, Diana and Gareth Evans, Bonnie and Pat Fuscoe, Julie Garn, Judi Gorski, Dr. Barbara Hamkalo, Ted and Roxy Herrick, Jackson Lewis P.C., Margaret and Tony Koblinski, MacGillivray Family Foundation, Jim Moloney and Erin Walsh-Moloney, Annette and Joe Oltmans, Jenny and Will O’Neill, Dr. Eric Ontiveros, Christine Pappas and Hugh Bradley, S. Parsons Family, Ann and Eric Smyth, Stradling, Joni Ravenna and Mitchell Sussman, Laura Tarbox, TDL Law, Jennifer Thomas/Seven Gables Real Estate, Keiko Sakamoto and Bill Witte.
This event was also generously supported by Meriam Braselle, Buchanan Brand + Design, Brian Dobbin Inc., Fork, Knife + Spoon Catering, Cathy Frandsen & MaxMara Weekend, The Gregorys, The Hexberg Family, The Holidays Camp, Jadetiger Tea, Kora Kroep Catering, Barbara and Greg MacGillivray, MacGillivray Freeman Films, Paul and Debbie Naude, Michael Obermeyer, The Ranch at Laguna Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill, Wendy and Fred Salter, Michael and Sally Schreter, Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center, Jody and Richard Swinney, Valentine Reserve, Yosemite Conservancy, Zotovich Vinyards & Winery, zpizza.
Full sponsor list also available at crystalcove.org/soiree.
Guests bidding during the Endless Summer Soiree live auction.
Attendees take in panoramic coastal views while reconnecting over cocktails.
Conservation supporters come together for a photo at Pelican Point.
Supporters gather for a photo at the blufftop celebration.
Laughter fills the lounge as attendees mingle during the reception.
Crystal Cove Conservancy board members pose for a sunset photo.
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About Crystal Cove Conservancy
Crystal Cove Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of Crystal Cove State Park. Through education, conservation, and preservation, The Conservancy protects the park’s natural and cultural resources while inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders. Each year, more than 7,000 students, educators, and community members engage with hands-on STEM programs, historic preservation, and conservation initiatives that ensure Crystal Cove remains a place to cherish for generations to come. For more information, please visit www.crystalcove.org.
Media Contact:
Jessica Arnaldo
Marketing & Communications Manager
Crystal Cove Conservancy
jessica@crystalcove.org