Show Caption
1 of 2
2026 Art of Fashion Honorary Chair Karen Gregg Hoehn
(Photo by Leigh Castelli)
Expand
The Country Friends (TCF) recently announced that philanthropist Karen Gregg Hoehn will serve as honorary chair of the nonprofit’s annual Art of Fashion runway show and luncheon on Sept. 10 at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. South Coast Plaza, event partner for the 23rd straight year, will once again showcase spectacular fall fashion from its unparalleled collection of luxury retailers and international designers, a news release stated.
Keilene (Kiki) Hayward and Irina Fenison are co-chairs of the event which draws hundreds of attendees to The Inn’s lawn to sip champagne, shop at South Coast Plaza mini-boutiques, and bid on silent and live auction items from plaza retailers and local businesses. KFMB-TV/News8 Anchor Anna Laurel, last year’s co-chair with Sophia Alsadek, will take the stage this year as emcee. “We are so thrilled to honor Karen who has done so much over many years in service to our community,” says Janean Stripe, president of The Country Friends Board of Directors, in the news release.
The Country Friends selected Hoehn as honoree because of her long commitment to community centering on youth, local schools, various nonprofit organizations, and the arts. She and her husband Robert Hoehn have established a robust art presence at the University of San Diego. Karen served as Art of Fashion co-chair with Suzanne Newman in 2012 and the Hoehns have been generous Art of Fashion sponsors for many years. A former flight attendant, Karen loves to travel the world and has been a driving force behind The Rebelle Rally, a renowned off-road navigation race, competing in numerous rallies in the United States and Morocco over the past decade with daughters Jo Hannah and Susanah. The Hoehns have four grandchildren, the news release stated.
Hayward previously served as AOF co-chair in 2021 with Sandy Nolan and Melissa Wilkins. She has also co-chaired several fundraising luncheons at Rancho Santa Fe’s Mille Fleurs with Linda Sansone. A self-taught cook and former personal chef focusing on healthy eating, Hayward also has an eye for design. She often volunteers at The Country Friends Consignment Shop which sells furniture, crystal, serving pieces, art, and accessories, with proceeds benefitting San Diego County-based charities. Married to Michael Hayward, Kiki is the mother of three adult children and four grandchildren, the news release stated.
Irina Fenison brings a blend of dedication, style, and purpose to everything she does. Born and raised in Moscow, she earned a master’s degree in special education, working with children who have disabilities. Fenison and her family moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1995. A former longtime project manager for a major electrical supply company, Fenison relocated to San Diego in 2015. She and her husband Michael Fenison, who now live in Rancho Santa Fe, support a range of nonprofits and charitable causes, bringing both time and heart to philanthropic efforts. She also enjoys fashion, exploring new destinations, and cherishing family moments with their two adult children, the news release stated.
Laurel, an award-winning news anchor and reporter at KFMB-TV/News8, is known for her incisive story-telling and deep commitment to giving people a voice. The daughter of a Southern Baptist minister, she grew up with a broad world view, one that continues to shape her journalism background. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she reported for television stations throughout the United States before returning to California. A devoted mother to her daughter Nyla, she balances motherhood with the fast-paced world of journalism. Laurel has a passion for meeting people, sharing their stories, and amplifying voices that she believes need to be heard, the news release stated.
The 2026 Art of Fashion will include a champagne reception sponsored by Linda Sansone and Tamara Lafarga-Joseph and shopping at South Coast Plaza mini-boutiques on The Inn’s lawn. The program and South Coast Plaza runway show will follow on the park adjacent to The Inn. After the runway show, guests are invited to enjoy a four-course luncheon curated by Executive Chef Patrick Ponsaty, an acclaimed, fifth generation chef who has helmed top restaurants in San Diego for nearly three decades. For more information, call 858-756-1192 or visit thecountryfriends.org.
The deadline for nonprofits to apply for funds is June 15. Human Care Funding Chair Laura MacKinnon Chapman says TCF supports agencies and programs focused on preventive services such as child abuse and domestic violence initiatives, self-improvement and job training opportunities, new and continuing programs led by established nonprofits, and medical devices and equipment that address community needs. For details go to the countryfriends.org.
