Women of Crittenton Set Celebrity Art Auction

Women of Crittenton share the philosophy that to break the cycle of environmental and economic deprivation, they must set an example that a better life is possible.

Fran Cey and 15 others founded the organization in 1975 to aid abused and neglected young women and pregnant or unwed mothers and their infants. Members spend time with the young women and infants, suggesting service projects, organizing holiday parties, providing a model for social coping, parenting, job achievement and healthy family relations.

Next Sunday at the Sheraton Premier, they’ll host a Celebrity Fine Art Auction. Works by Ruscha, Rauchenberg and Nagel will be auctioned as well as movie posters of Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, James Dean and John Wayne.

Celebrities Linda Purl, Robert Mandan and Richard Mull will do the honors for bidders.

Fran Cey and Diane Schulhoffer are co-chairman, working with president Theresa Luisotti, and Cheryl Eisenberg and Linda Napoli.

Each year nearly 400 physically abused children are rushed to the emergency room at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood. Thus, the St. Francis Child Abuse Project is expanding to help reduce the statistic.

It’s one of several hospital projects benefiting from this year’s 40th anniversary Ruby Ball on Saturday at the Beverly Wilshire.

Physicians and staffers join friends of the hospital for dining and dancing and the raffle of a sparkling oval ruby plucked from the mines of Burma.

French Pique-Nique dress a la Renoir, whites and pastels will be absolutely apropos for “La Fete de Printemps-A Springtime Celebration.” The 20th anniversary international salute benefits Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, which celebrates the opening of its fourth and newest campus in Woodland Hills. (Others are in West Los Angeles, Redondo Beach and Pacific Palisades.)

And, in the giving spirit, the independent school (kindergarten though 12th grade) is pledging a portion of proceeds to support the Statue of Liberty restoration.

It promises to be a marvelous afternoon--for perhaps as many as 3,000 guests. There will be balloon rides, strolling wine stewards and a gourmet lunch.

Many consul generals are expected to descend, recognizing that Le Lycee’s student body represents 35 nationalities.

Co-chairmen are Gilbert Cates, president of the Director’s Guild of America; Tina Chow, wife of restaurateur Michael Chow; actress and Le Lycee graduate Jodie Foster; Claire Lambert, wife of the French commercial counselor M. Andre Lambert, and David Mirisch, president of the international promotional firm.

Official hosts are Dr. and Mme. Raymond Kabaz, Le Lycee founders.

Underscoring the international support for the school, an International Liaison Committee has been formed. Danielle Adam, wife of Belgium’s consul general, heads the committee already represented by France, Canada, Greece, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the Quebec delegation.

Singer-actor Robert Guillaume of television’s “Benson” brought the audience to its feet, we’re told, for his fabulous performance at the Neighbors of Watts 15th annual benefit at the Beverly Wilshire.

Says Jackie Hogrefe, “We work our heads off for a whole year and then take a year off.” And this is the year for the Peninsula Auction Committee’s eighth biennial auction to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Specifically, they’re raising funds for cancer education, service and research. Two years ago they netted $50,000.

The estate of the Gerald Katells in Rolling Hills will be the spot May 19 for cocktails and canapes, and the place where Visa and Mastercard can be pulled out when the auction prices climb.

Among those in on the fun are Pat and Gene Carver, Delores and Chuck Stadell, Pat and Bud Johansen, Kay and Paul Conrad, Cash and Don Adams, Janet and Jerry Best, Mary Ann and Tom Duddleson, Polly and Al Dunham, Polly and Pete Hathaway, Sally and Bill Herndon, Mary and Jim Ingrassia, Karin and Ron Jones, Laurie and Dan Logan, Karen and John Russo, Gwynne and Doug Shaw, Sally and Carrol Whitney and Ginger and Ron Winger.

Nice golf weather, most think. Monday two groups host charity celebrity golf tournaments.

Says Jack Youngblood, Rams’ football super star: “Every child should have the special gift of hearing a football crowd. This is our goal,” and, thus, the seventh annual Jack Youngblood Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place at the Irvine Coast Country Club, benefiting the John Tracy Clinic in its efforts on behalf of deaf children and their parents. Proceeds go to the new Orange County demonstration home.

Participants are paying entry donations of $175. Each foursome will include a celebrity and cast in that role are Rod Dedeaux, Peter Haskell, Harry Newman, Gil Haskell, Phil Olsen, Bill Bain, Mick McDonald, Morey Amsterdam, David Hill, Bob Chandler, Al Downing, Dan Pastorini, Carl Ekern, Tom Harmon, Rich Saul and Jack Carter.

The same day at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, TV and stage personality Hal Linden hosts the first Celebrity Golf Tournament for the Sunair Home for Asthmatic Children.

Jack Lemmon, Harvey Korman, Fred MacMurray, Leslie Neilsen, Kevin Dobson, Gary Collins and Elgin Baylor will be partnered with non-celebs.

Michael Novarese is giving the first glimpse of his new fall gowns to a crowd assembling at the Huntington Sheraton in Pasadena Tuesday for the Cloistered Carmelite Nuns Auxiliary luncheon and fashion show.

And “Florence Eiseman Past and Present” is sure to bring a tear or two of nostalgia to the Costume Council of Los Angeles County Museum of Art, when Saks Fifth Avenue honors the design firm with a retrospective May 20 at the Bing Theater.

Laurence Eiseman will be the commentator, tracing the history of Mrs. Eiseman and her legendary contributions to children’s fashion.

A tea party follows.

Actor Buddy Ebsen once planned to be a doctor. Now he and his wife, Dorothy, are honorary chairmen for Centinela Hospital Medical Center Auxiliary’s Las Vegas Night on May 18 at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton.

It benefits the hospital’s Children’s Charity Fund, established in 1983 to aid children who need medical care but whose parents can’t afford co-payments required by insurers.

Tickets are $50. According to chairmen Messrs. and Mmes. Daniel Kim and Frank Rayor, a new Ford Thunderbird will go to the holder of the lucky opportunity ticket.

The Friends of the School Volunteers Program of Los Angeles, Inc. host their Theater Party V Tuesday evening at the Shubert Theatre where “Cats” is being performed. Before the curtain goes up, there will be wine and cheese at the Princess restaurant.

Co-chairmen are Mmes. Ethel Bradley, Edmund G. Brown and Nanette Fabray.

Tickets are $100.

Mrs. Roy Anderson is president of the Friends, which raises funds for volunteer and tutorial programs in Los Angeles city schools, specifically DOVES (Dedicated Older Volunteers in Educational Services) classroom tutors.