A $300,000 Gift to L.A. Philharmonic

To put it mildly, Paddy Grant and the Pasadena Showcase House of Design members are thrilled about the results of their 21st anniversary benefit. They’re calling for luncheons, bouquets, congratulatory hoopla, and with extremely fine cause: They’re giving a whopping $300,000 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The most ever.

At the Busch mansion opening night in April, Mrs. Hugh M. Grant was optimistic but cautious. She noted: “Rain is the only thing that keeps ladies in California at home.” She hoped then for an attendance of more than 50,000 and a gift to the Philharmonic of $265,000.

Attendance, however, was 52,441, topping the high of 42,000 in 1984, and the $300,000 exceeds last year’s high of $230,000.

Furthermore, Paddy tells us an additional $9,000 will be going to support the Pasadena Youth Concert and the Music Mobile Program. And, with donations still coming in, the committee plans a bonus for the orchestra in September.

The United Way awarded its most prestigious United Way Gold Key Award to Marcie Greenburg of Beverly Hills. That puts her in company with Mrs. William French Smith, a former recipient who presented the award. The coveted award goes to a woman who has contributed 10 or more years of outstanding service to her community.

Nominated by the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, Mrs. Greenburg has served as “an important bridge in a variety of joint ventures.”

Additionally, the J. Robert Fluor Award was accepted by Father David Cousineau and Greg Jones for the Catholic Social Services’ Region III Youth Outreach Project, which matches high school students with senior citizens in the Rio Hondo area.

The Catholic project has an interesting genesis: Initially, youths were recruited from honors classes. This established a positive peer culture because these youths desired the experience of serving others and were seeking community activity that could be included on scholarship applications. Problem youngsters, faced with an environment of gangs and substance abuse, then were placed in the program and made to feel part of the team.

Skater Dorothy Hamill will be feted as 1985 Foster Parent of the Year on Friday at the Ambassador Hotel for her help in recruiting more than 6,500 new sponsors for needy children overseas.

She has her own commitment too. Her foster child is Martha Cecilia Capreno of Colombia.

Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels are hosts of the Foster Parent’s Plan evening, the first “Sponsor a Child Overseas” celebration by L.A. Cares.

Premiering at the event will be “What the World Needs Now,” a feature film narrated by Burt Bacharach. Jazz keyboard artist Sandy Owen will make music.

In response to the African crisis, Women With a Heart will play host to a luncheon today at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Blue Ribbon Room. They’ll hear Marta Gabre-Tsadick, first woman senator of Ethiopia.

Mrs. M. Norvel Young is honorary chairman of the host committee, in company with Mmes. Anthony Beilenson, Tom Bradley, Gary Collins, Deane Dana, James Kenneth Hahn, Kenneth Hahn, David A. Hubbard, Donn Moomaw, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller and David Wolper and more.

Janice Hahn Baucum is luncheon chairman and Ludmila Gibbons, co-chairman. They’re working with Sara Young Jackson, Isabelle Paulson, Jeanette Roche, Shirley Uhler, Carina A. Windsor and Dorene Young.

Women With a Heart developed through the efforts of six congressional wives who toured West Africa through the efforts of World Vision. Funds will be used for food, blankets and medical supplies.

Twentieth Century Fox’s “Cocoon” opens with a benefit for the Institute for Cancer and Blood Research on Friday evening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Hopefully, it will be as successful as Pitzer College’s evening at Universal Studios commissary and the screening of “Fletch” with Chevy Chase. In on the heavy laughter were Toni and Bruce Corwin, Pitzer’s president Frank L. Ellsworth, philanthropist Florence Benjamin (president of the Giles W. & Elise G. Mead Foundation), Connie and Bud Austin, Gloria and Peter Gold, Bruce and Janet Karatz, the Felix Judas, Myrna Patrick, David and Josephine DeYoung and Elinor and Frank Nathan.

Connie Stevens’ second annual all-male celebrity fashion show and luncheon for the benefit of Native Americans is Sunday at the Beverly Wilshire. Proceeds go to Windfeather Inc., formed by Stevens to raise the dignity of American Indians by helping with their educational, medical and water needs. It’s aided by Connie’s friends, “Les Girls.”

Mitch Gaylord, Magic Johnson, Ray Mancini, Red Buttons, Marcus Allen, Christopher Atkins, Frankie Avalon and Sam Jones are among the fashion models. Robert Conrad is master of ceremonies.

Sally Struthers will be the host of the Christian Children’s Fund art sale and auction Sunday evening in the Vivian Beaumont Theater Lobby at Lincoln Center in New York.