THE CROWD:Car raffle drives donations for Interval House

Three hundred tickets were sold at $500 each, raising $150,000 for Interval House Crisis Shelters in Orange County and Los Angeles. The charity helps victims of domestic violence. One ticket purchaser received a Bentley Azure Convertible for their donation. Not a bad return.

The Azure Convertible is a coveted automobile from the Bentley line, created in limited production. The luxury convertible costs roughly $330,000 and has around 450-horsepower.

This particular vehicle belonged to Dorothy and Ted Johnson of Huntington Harbour and Honolulu. They are longtime advocates and benefactors of Interval House.

“I don’t need to go to the grocery store in a Bentley. I’d rather the money collected go to good use helping those who really need it,” Dorothy Johnson said.

So, Dorothy and Ted asked their personal car dealer — Malcolm Phillips of Phillips Auto, Newport Beach — to hold a raffle in conjunction with Interval House.

Malcolm and his wife Carmela — who are active in numerous local causes, most notably The Harvester’s, one of Newport’s premier philanthropic organizations helping to feed the hungry in Orange County — organized an event to assist Interval House sell tickets and give away a fabulous champagne-colored convertible, which was in pristine condition.

Malcolm sold the car to the Johnsons, so it came with a pedigree.

The drawing took place just before the holidays in the Phillips Showroom on Pacific Coast Highway. Interval House executive director Carol Ann Williams joined TV celebrity Jo Anne Worley of “Laugh-In” fame to greet the crush.

Worley came down from Los Angeles to emcee the party and help to pick the winner. The comic actress added a bit of celeb cache to the proceedings, joking with the crowd who had converged on Phillips to find out if they would be driving home in a Bentley.

In her familiar high-pitched soprano voice, Worley sang to the group, prodding a few folks to up the ante and buy the last remaining $500 tickets.

Worley shared that she had come because she, too, is a longtime advocate of Interval House.

“I’m here because I care and because I know how important Interval House is to those who seek shelter.”

Both President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton have distinguished Interval House as “models to the nation” for their work.

For 26 years, Interval House has provided a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, medical services and much more.

Many in the Phillips crowd gratefully thanked Ted and Dorothy Johnson for their generosity. All in attendance knew that the funds would be put to good use.

As the champagne glasses were raised to properly toast the Johnsons and Interval House, one lucky ticket was pulled from the spinning wire cage to give away the auto. The winner chose to remain anonymous.

For more information on Interval House, contact Christine Delabre, Janine Limas or Sharon Wie at (562) 594-9492 or send an e-mail to [email protected].