Fundraiser

Editor's note: This corrects how many homes will be included in the tour. Six homes will be featured on the 39th annual Charm House Tour on May 15. This year the tour will showcase classic and contemporary homes, some newly renovated and others maintained in their original condition. "One example of this year's featured homes is a charming 1926 cottage, hidden away but within walking distance of many Laguna retail establishments," said event spokeswoman Barbara Picheny.

After two weeks of pressure to restore a beloved mural painted by Laguna College of Art & Design students and faculty, the Laguna Canyon Winery has announced it is raising funds to replace the public art. This could mean "goodbye" to what remains, a plain gray wall on Laguna Canyon Road. The winery has called the situation a misunderstanding. They believed the mural, said to be the largest in Orange County, was on private property. Property owner Steve Henry said previously that their lease agreement noted the dual ownership of the mural by Henry, the city and the college.

El Morro Elementary School students hit the ground running Wednesday for their annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser, with proceeds benefitting the PTA. All grades participated, from kindergarten through fifth, excitedly running laps on the field and high-fiving teachers and parents. "It's the No. 1 fundraiser at the school," said PTA President Elaine Brashier. "As you can see, everybody gets involved. " Students had the option to ask sponsors for an amount per lap or a one-time pledge.

Foundation Fighting Blindness brought in $425,000 for vision research at the fifth annual Dining in the Dark dinner. Event Coordinator Donna Cohen was very excited that they surpassed their goal of $400,000. "We raised about the same amount as last year, which was great," she said. About 300 people went to the Fairmont in Newport Beach, where they feasted in the dark for 30 minutes to know what it's like to be blind. Visually impaired waiters navigated the dinner using a system of ropes.

The public is invited on Sunday to an event at Unique Tan called Bronze for a Cause, a fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man of the Year nominee Ben Medina. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) hosts annual nominations and awards for Man and Woman of the Year in their different chapters. Medina is one of 13 nominees in the area. Unique Tan Owner Sherry Lee Meredith heard about Medina's nomination on Facebook and wanted to help him raise funds for his campaign.

Editor's note: This corrects the time Career Transition Coaching Group will take place. Tolan to discuss book on Middle East Sandy Tolan will discuss his book, "The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew and The Heart of the Middle East," from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 428 Park Ave., Laguna Beach. The event was previously scheduled for Feb. 23. The book was selected by the monthly book group St. Mary's Reads and was the first selection of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles for its reading program, according to a news statement from the church.

The Laguna College of Art & Design netted $105,000 at the annual Collector's Choice fundraiser, held Saturday at the campus on Laguna Canyon Road. A crowd of about 400 college supporters attended the event, which included an art raffle, silent and live auctions of works donated by professional artists, and an al fresco dinner. Students at the college directly benefit from the funds raised at Collector's Choice, which provides financial assistance via scholarships, and pays to upgrade the campus facilities where they strive to fulfill their dreams of a career in the arts.

. FOR THE RECORD: The March 26 article ?Picnic for fireworks approved? should have stated that $1,776 was donated by Jim Howard for Fourth of July fireworks.. Raising the money to pay for the traditional Fourth of July fireworks show may be no picnic in these economic times, but a picnic will help. The City Council unanimously approved Tuesday a request from the Laguna Board of Realtors for permission to hold a communitywide fundraising picnic from noon to 4 p.m. May 2 at Alta Laguna Park.