Dinner supports injured, fallen police officers

They came with a serious purpose. And they came in numbers.

Some 200 Orange County residents were invited to dinner at the Newport Beach residence of Antonio Cagnolo, celebrity owner of Antonello’s Ristorante at South Coast Plaza Village. It was a dinner event designed to raise money for Project 999, a support and financial assistance program that goes to bat for injured and fallen Orange County police officers and their families. The name Project 999 takes its meaning from the police distress call when an officer is hurt in the line of duty.

The recent dinner event at the Cagnolo home, above the Newport Harbor Main Channel, began with a wine reception as special guest of honor Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona arrived. Surrounded by a contingent of his fellow law enforcement professionals, including Bob McDonnell, chief of police in Newport Beach, and Mike Messina, chief of police in Brea, along with many high-profile individuals supporting law enforcement, the dinner for Carona and his wife Debbie was an upbeat community rally of support.

Jim Allen, president of the Sheriff’s Advisory Council, joined his wife, Mary, for the Cagnolo dinner event. Ed Grech; Debbie and Al Hensling; Andrea and David Maffei; as well as Charyl and Dennis Assael; head of an organization called Professional Service Reserves in support of O.C. law enforcement, were also in attendance.

Assael, a prominent car dealer, said, Professional Service Reserves “raises money for injured or fallen peace officers and their families. We are a small group of men and women who raised $600,000 last year, and this year our goal is $1 million.”

The Cagnolo dinner raised $45,000, with more proceeds still to come. Assael added that he first became involved in 999, and has chaired this Professional Service Reserves unit for a year and a half. He is joined by Newport Beach-based real estate agent Rick Langevin, also in attendance, and equally passionate about the cause.

“This is a very important part of our community,” Langevin said. “Supporting law enforcement is our duty. I am pleased to be able to help.”

Assael agreed.

“It’s about giving back to the community,” he said.

As dinner was served with great Cagnolo Italian style, guests including Rep. Dana Rohrbacher; Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley; Dennis Kies; Jim Sellers; Brennan Cassidy; Carol and Mike Lamp; Marci Hollander; Chris Valli; and Stephanie and Mike Reynolds shared conversation over the importance of a strong community bond between citizens and law enforcement.

To support the Project 999 fund, donations may be mailed to: Project 999, P.O. Box 241, Santa Ana, CA 92702. Project 999 is part of the Sheriffs Advisory Counsel and is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.

20060216iur60ync(LA)Antonio Cagnolo, Rick Langevin, Mike Messina and Dennis Assael all supporting Project 999, which benefits law enforcement offers and their families.20060216iur60hnc(LA)David and Christina Gianulias and Alisa and Rick Langevin attend a Newport Beach dinner honoring Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona.20060216iur6innc(LA)Paul Musco stands with and Debbie Mike Carona, Orange County sheriff, at the Project 999 dinner in Newport Beach. 20060216iur6i4nc(LA)Rick and Alisa Langevin attend a dinner for 200 held at Antonio Cagnolo’s Newport Beach residence.20060216gzf7uqke(LA)David and Christina Gianulias and Alisa and Rick Langevin attend a Newport Beach dinner honoring Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona.