Corona del Mar Home Tour: How It Started, Local Impact & Behind the Scenes with Chair Gina Jaha
The Corona del Mar Home Tour is one of Newport Beach’s most anticipated annual events, bringing the community together while raising vital funds for Corona del Mar Middle School and High School.
In this episode of Duffy Chats, we cruise the harbor with CDM Home Tour Chair Gina Jaha to discuss how the Home Tour first began, how she became involved and rose to Chair, and the many ways this beloved event supports local students through fundraising, sponsorships, and community involvement. 2026 marks a major milestone, with the highest number of underwriters in the event’s history, alongside the support of Presenting Sponsors Valia Properties and Cozy Earth.
Whether you’re a longtime attendee or discovering the Home Tour for the first time, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this event so impactful—and why it continues to thrive year after year.
Learn more about the event and get tickets: https://cdmhometour.org
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Welcome back to Duffy Chats. With the annual Corona del Mar Home Tour coming up on March 13th, we thought it was fitting to sit down with Gina Jaha, the longtime leader behind this beloved community event. We’re talking about community impact, longevity, evolution, and a local tradition that continues to move forward while honoring the past.
Gina, welcome aboard. We’re glad to have you here.
The home tour is just about a month away — and it’s sold out. One of our favorite days of the year. We love all the beautiful homes. You always do such a great job.
So Gina, let’s go back to the beginning. Can you tell us how the home tour first started — who executed it and how it all came about?
Gina Jaha: Okay, I know this well because I did a feature story in the 50th anniversary magazine. The PTA moms started it in 1974. A few moms decided they were going to raise funds by having people walk through homes.
Most of the homes were in the village back then. I actually got to visit those homes and feature them in the 50th magazine with the original owners, which was amazing.
Tickets were a suggested donation of $3.50.
Can you imagine?
And the PTA moms made lunch and brought it to Sherman Gardens and provided it for everyone. That’s how it started.
There wasn’t a VIP event or afterparty back then, right?
Gina Jaha: No, all of that came later as the event grew.
When did you get involved?
Gina Jaha: I got involved in 2013. My girlfriend Wendy Braun asked me to be a docent when our kids were at Lincoln Elementary. I didn’t even know what the home tour was.
So I started as a docent, did that for a few years, and it just grew on me. I loved Michelle Jilly Casten, who was chair at the time — she was amazing and a great mentor.
Then Wendy asked me to be chair in 2019. I never thought I would do that, but I did, and I’m so glad. I feel very honored to carry on the legacy.
When you started as a docent, was it similar to what it is now?
Gina Jaha: Similar in structure — you still had the homes — but it has grown a lot. Probably twice as big now.
We sell more tickets, have more homes, and more events tied into it. I’ve created pit stops with partners like Rogers Gardens and Cozy Earth so people can shop, have refreshments, and get discounts.
It’s really become a full day of festivities.
And moving to the Civic Center after COVID really opened things up. The boutique grew two to three times in size, which brought more community involvement and excitement.
What keeps you motivated to keep doing this year after year?
Gina Jaha: The students. The home tour directly impacts every student at the school.
We fund beautification, scholarships, teacher grants — it’s ongoing. Especially since COVID, the school has transformed, and I’ve been able to see that transformation while my son is still there.
That’s what keeps me going. And I genuinely love the home tour.
For those unfamiliar, can you walk us through what the event actually looks like?
Gina Jaha: Yes. We start with a VIP party that celebrates sponsors, underwriters, homeowners, and volunteers.
Then the home tour itself happens about a month later on March 13th.
The morning kicks off at the Civic Center. The CDM drum line starts the day — one of my favorite parts. Check-in begins around 8:00 a.m., and it’s packed.
We have a boutique, breakfast, and later lunch. From 10:00 to 4:00, guests tour the homes. There are party buses taking people around, which is really fun.
Then we wrap with an afterparty at Sherman Gardens, which is special because that’s where it all started. After that, my committee and I usually go out and celebrate — last year we went to Restoration Hardware, the year before Joey.
It’s a full day.
How do you raise funds through the event?
Gina Jaha: Presenting sponsors are huge — Valia Properties and Cozy Earth. They contribute significantly.
Then we have additional sponsors at different levels, and underwriters — this year we have the most we’ve ever had, which is exciting.
We also raise money through the boutique, auctions, ads tied to sponsorship packages, and of course ticket sales.
Putting on an event like this is no small task. What makes it successful?
Gina Jaha: Teamwork. It’s all volunteers — mostly moms from the school.
This year I have the biggest team I’ve ever had, and it’s running really smoothly. On the day of the event, we have about 150 docents just for the homes.
That’s what makes it work.
How do you keep it fresh each year?
Gina Jaha: The homes are key — I try to find the most unique homes with different styles.
We’ve also expanded the boutique, added more vendors, and incorporated student performances — drum line, cheer, jazz band, theater.
That’s really important because this is all about the students.
What’s something behind the scenes people wouldn’t realize?
Gina Jaha: How hard it is to get the homes. The first few are easier, but after that it gets tough. Homeowners are opening their homes to thousands of people — it’s a huge, generous donation.
We’ve also added designers inside the homes so they can answer questions, which creates little “mini events” within each house.
And yes — selecting the homes is just me.
If someone wants to get involved, what can they do?
Gina Jaha: They can still volunteer as a docent — we need around 150.
They can reach out through the website or email. For committee roles, it helps to have a student at the school, but there are still ways to contribute even after your kids graduate.
We also involve students through artwork — they create renderings of the homes and even design the magazine cover.
Final question — if you had a Duffy boat, what would you name it?
Gina Jaha: My friends call me “Genie” — like “Gina in a Bottle” — because I organize everything and they think I create magic.
So I’d name it “Gina in a Bottle”.
Perfect.
Thank you for joining us. We’re excited for this year’s home tour on March 13th.
Gina Jaha: Thank you so much for having me.