Arcadia – This year’s 21^st annual Crystal Ball, Methodist Hospital Foundation’s black-tie, “fun-raising” gala, will benefit the nationally recognized comprehensive cardiac care program, which provides specialized, advanced services in diagnosis and treatment.

Crystal Ball 2010, “An Evening of Good Vibrations with The Beach Boys” will be held Saturday, October 16, at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Event co-chairs this year are Methodist Hospital Foundation board members Christine Antonovich and Richard Sun, DDS. Antonovich, co-chair of the Chinese American Film Festival, and Sun, San Marino City Council member, along with their 19 “energetic” committee membershave been working for months to provide a memorable experience their guests would not soon forget.

“Christine and I are very impressed by the commitment that our committee has already shown,” Dr. Sun said. “They are motivated to make this the best Crystal Ball we’ve ever had. And with their skills, knowledge and talent, we’re all inspired to achieve that goal.”

Dr. Sun first became involved with the Crystal Ball in 2007, when he was the Grand Sponsor. “I am glad to have the opportunity to continue the tradition and spirit of this gala event,” he said.

This is Antonovich’s first time on the Crystal Ball committee, but she has served with the expertise of an experienced member. “I feel so honored to have the opportunity to work with my dear friend Richard and the other committee members to raise money for Methodist Hospital,” Antonovich said. “I am enjoying every minute of my experience.”

Methodist Hospital is a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) receiving center approved by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ Emergency Medical Services Agency. When paramedics identify a patient as having a heart attack, they may transport directly to an approved STEMI receiving center such as Methodist Hospital. The hospital’s highly qualified chest pain team, which has been treating STEMI patients well within the 90-minute timeframe cath labs strive to achieve, recently set a hospital record for unblocking a heart in a door-to-balloon time (interval between the patient’s arrival and the opening of a blocked artery with an angioplasty balloon) of only 14 minutes.

The hospital has three cardiac catheterization labs staffed by experienced registered nurses and radiologic technologists. Procedures performed include coronary angioplasty, pacemaker insertion, stenting and open-heart surgery. The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized the hospital for its STEMI receiving center and stroke and heart failure performance. These certifications attest that the hospital has met stringent AHA guidelines “to improve quality of patient care and outcomes” for stroke and heart failure patients.

Crystal Ball will also honor long-time Methodist Hospital Foundation board member and philanthropist Kathleen Ellison, who personifies a generous spirit. Ellison, a member of the Foundation Board since 1999, will be honored for her long-time commitment and service to Methodist Hospital. Ellison has served as treasurer, chair-elect, chair and immediate past chair.

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys continue to create and perform with the same bold style that marked their debut almost 50 years ago. Averaging 150 shows a year, the group plans another national/world tour and continued charity activities through Mike Love’s Love Foundation, which supports national environmental and educational initiatives.

Leader and frontman Mike Love is one of rock’s foremost songwriters. With his cousin, Brian Wilson, Love wrote the classics “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “California Girls” and the Grammy-nominated “Good Vibrations.” Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston (Barry Manilow’s “I Write The Songs”) joined The Beach Boys in 1965, replacing Glenn Campbell, who filled in on vocals/bass when Brian Wilson retired from touring. The band also includes Christian Love (guitar/vocals), Randell Kirsch (bass/vocals), Tim Bonhomme (keyboards/vocals), John Cowsill of The Cowsills (percussion /vocals) and Scott Totten (guitar/vocals).