DEL MAR — About 100 people gathered July 9 at the beachfront home of longtime Del Mar resident Jenny Craig, co-founder of the eponymous weight-loss program, to raise money for downtown revitalization.
The Sunset Soiree featured cocktails, tapas and background music provided by guitarist Michael Tiernan. It was sponsored by the Del Mar Village Association, which hopes to make it an annual event at different homes each year.
The cost was $250 per person. Because Craig donated almost everything, including complimentary valet parking, nearly all money raised will be used to improve the village area.
“This was all made possible by one very, very gracious and generous person,” Matthew Bergman, DMVA president, said referring to Craig.
“One person wanting to help by bringing people together is pretty incredible,” he said.
“This is such a great city,” Craig said. “I think everyone wants to keep it like it is — a quaint coastal town. That’s something I’d like to be a part of.”
Bergman also credited Sissy Alsabrook, Karen Powell and Barbara Inbody for helping to coordinate the event.
“Sissy and Jenny are good friends,” Alsabrook’s husband, Roger, said. “Sissy just asked Jenny to help and this is the result.”
Bergman said part of the money raised will be used for visualizations, such as 3-D architectural renderings.
“Those can really help people understand what revitalization means,” Bergman said. “I don’t think anyone is opposed to revitalization because everyone benefits.”
