Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Romance of the Mission benefit gala is planned for Friday, September 16 on the grounds of historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. Longtime benefit gala partners The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel are the 2016 honorees and this year’s concert artist is season XIV American Idol finalist Clark Beckham.
Mission San Juan Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams said, “The Mission Preservation Foundation believes firmly that the long lasting and decades of contributions by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel are best seen in the cumulative and outstanding preservation of the site which makes this Mission stand uniquely as one of the most beautiful and best preserved in California. We are immensely proud to recognize the collective efforts of the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and look forward to delivering a very special evening of elegance and purpose while they receive a well-deserved moment in celebration for all they have done for Mission San Juan Capistrano.”
In addition to supporting Mission San Juan’s preservation efforts through their ongoing partnership with the benefit gala, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel General Manager Bruce Brainerd serves as a Mission Preservation Foundation Board member.
“Over the years, the ladies and gentlemen in culinary and food and beverage have been an integral part of the Mission’s annual gala and their creativity and talent truly shine at this event. I am extremely honored and proud that the Mission board has selected our ladies and gentlemen as the honorees this year,” said Brainerd.
At just eight years of age, Clark Beckham started singing with his parents in a gospel trio and playing various musical instruments. In 2015, he combined his soulful, bluesy vocals with an incredible talent on the piano and guitar to take America by storm and finish as runner up in American Idol’s Season XIV.
Beckham will perform a live concert in the ruins of the Great Stone Church with songs that cross many genres including the benefit gala tradition, When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.
The benefit gala begins at 6:00 p.m. with an opening reception in the Mission’s Front Gardens followed by the Clark Beckham concert, historic bell ringing and candlelight four-course plated dinner hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in the Main Courtyard.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. For tickets, underwriting opportunities or more information about the benefit gala, contact Barb Beier at 949.234.1323 or visit www.missionsjc.com.