201811.15
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Charles and Ling Zhang honored as Orange County’s Outstanding Philanthropists — but the real surprise is their musical performance

by in News

Honorees already were known, so surprises weren’t expected at Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Grove.

Then Charles and Ling Zhang, who were selected as the county’s Outstanding Philanthropists, started singing. The crowd of more than 900 took a moment to realize what was happening, then stood and joined the former Pick Up Stix owners and longtime arts supporters in a rendition of “God Bless America.”

  • Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon is held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018, honoring people who have donated time, effort and money to philanthropic causes in Orange County.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Peter Ueberroth, left, and his daughter, Vicki Booth, right, listen as Ginny Ueberroth speaks after the Legacy Award was presented to the Ginny and Peter Ueberroth Family Foundation during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Michelle Wulfestieg, founder of Southern California Hospice Foundation, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Founder award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Ling and Charles Zhang sing, God Bless America, after being presented the Outstanding Philanthropist award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Honorary co-chairs James and Suzanne Mellor speak during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018, honoring people who have donated time, effort and money to philanthropic causes in Orange County.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Michelle Wulfestieg, founder of Southern California Hospice Foundation, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Founder award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Mistress and master of ceremonies were Maria Hall-Brown and Henry DiCarlo for Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018, honoring people who have donated time, effort and money to philanthropic causes in Orange County.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Kristine Peters, left, director of investor relations of Orange County United Way and Elissa Oransky, executive director Irvine Valley College Foundation, listen as Lauren Best, recipient of the Outstanding Youth award speaks during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Maria Hall-Brown and Henry DiCarlo, left, listen as Michael Baroni, 2018 president Orange County Bar Association Charitable Group, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Philanthropic Group award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Jim Bastian of Shulman, Hodges & Bastian LLP, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Small Business award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Joe Hanauer speaks after being presented the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Leland Smith, founder of Service Champions Heating and Air Conditioning, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Mid-Size Business award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Allen Staff, Orange County Market president of Bank of America, speaks after being presented the Outstanding Large Business award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Doug Freeman, CEO of OC Music and Dance and founder of National Philanthropy Day speaks during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • As Doug Freeman, left, founder of National Philanthropy Day listens, Ling Zhang speaks as she stands with her husband, Charles Zhang, after being presented the Outstanding Philanthropist award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Ling and Charles Zhang applaud after they led the audience in the singing of, God Bless America, after being presented the Outstanding Philanthropist award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Peter Ueberroth, left, listens as his wife, Ginny Ueberroth speaks after the Legacy Award was presented to the Ginny and Peter Ueberroth Family Foundation during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Peter and Ginny Ueberroth, left, listen as their daughter, Vicki Booth, right, speaks after they were presented the Legacy Award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Peter and Ginny Ueberroth, left, wave and listen as their daughter, Vicki Booth, right, speaks after they were presented the Legacy Award during Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People arrive for Orange County’s 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The event honored people who have donated time, effort and money to philanthropic causes in Orange County.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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A few minutes later, Vicki Booth – honored with her parents, Peter and Ginny Ueberroth, for the Ueberroth Family Foundation – joked about how tough it was to follow a moment like the Zhangs had delivered.

“That’s why you don’t want to go last,” Booth said.

Among the other moving moments was when Michelle Wulfestieg, the founder of the Southern California Hospice Foundation, shared her story of overcoming two strokes and determining she needed to help terminally ill people and their families.

All of the National Philanthropy Day honorees will be celebrated on a page in Sunday’s edition of the Register.