Crittenton, City of Hope Rewarding Good Works

Both the Crittenton Center and the City of Hope seem destined for immortality. The former hosts its 92nd annual meeting Tuesday at the Music Center. The latter is celebrating its 72nd anniversary this weekend at the biennial convention at the Beverly Hilton.

They’re aging nicely.

Carl R. Terzian, Los Angeles public relations executive and lecturer, keynotes the Crittenton luncheon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He’s talking on “Shared Community Responsibility: Good Intentions Equal Great Rewards.”

Terzian recently was appointed by U. S. Information Agency Director Charles Z. Wick to the public relations committee of the USIA.

B. Peter Knudson, president of Crittenton Center (for young women and infants), heads the annual meeting. Florence Henderson will receive the second annual community volunteer award. The W. M. Keck and the Weingart foundations will be recognized for their donations to the completed $1.2-million capital campaign. Among others receiving kudos will be Crittenton Center Community Council representatives including Anne Jeffreys. Fran Parker Volunteer Awards will go to Jane Stockton, Luann Kurnick, Barbara Lake and Sandy Lejay, presidents of support groups, and to charter members of the 10-year-old Women for Crittenton.

City of Hope president Abe Bolsky, president of Tishman Construction Corp. of California, has named Norm Crosby as City of Hope’s “ambassador of goodwill” for a second two-year term.

At Monday’s closing convention dinner, Rhonda Fleming will receive a special award of appreciation. More celebrities getting heavy appreciation this weekend have been Dionne Warwick, Pierce Brosnan, Cassandra Harris, Monty Hall, Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels and Eva Gabor.

Today, delegates are taking an extensive tour of the medical center, hearing from science specialists. That should give them a very fine view on City of Hope’s $90 million annual operating budget. Of that, $30 million comes from voluntary contributions.

The Childhelp Center--Los Angeles (for the care and treatment of abused children and their families) is being dedicated Thursday at 1345 El Centro.

Along with the ribbon cutting, the open house tours and music, Elena Irving’s bronze will be unveiled. Titled “Nucleus of the Social Spirit: Mother and Child,” it stands 40-inches high.

Johnny Grant has agreed to be master of ceremonies.

The center building has been acquired and renovated through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, initiated by City Council members John Ferraro and Peggy Stevenson.

A family evaluation program will be housed at the center, as well as crisis counseling and followup direct services to abused children and their families.

Vice President and Mrs. George Bush have joined the honorary list of distinguished Americans backing World Vision’s African relief and development programs. That includes the Nov. 19 performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah” in the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan recently agreed to be honorary gala chairmen. The goal is $1.6 million.

Francisco de Araujo, interpreter of religious music based on biblical themes, will conduct a fully staged dramatic version of the oratorio.

Philanthropist, financier and noted emcee Art Linkletter received Rotary International’s highest award, the Paul Harris Fellowship, a fortnight ago at Lakeside Country Club.

Leonard H. vander Bie, president of the Rotary Club of Hollywood Foundation, honored Linkletter for his work with Rotary International’s polio immunization program, which has been in existence for more than 30 years. Said the president, “Last year we immunized more than 6 million children in the Philippines, whereas, in 1983, more than 24,000 were crippled by polio.” As a result of Linkletter’s public service radio announcements, donations have helped develop funding to immunize more than 85,000.

Also recognized was Mark Linnell of the Torrance Rotary Club. A graphic artist, he’s prepared public service advertisements that will be sent to publications throughout the United States, Canada and Britain in the continuing international effort.

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation in Canoga Park will benefit from the Calabasas Tennis Club’s West Valley Pro/Celebrity Tennis Exhibition today.

Vince Van Patten, just back from Wimbledon, and newly turned pro Jeff Klaparda, currently the National Men’s Amateur Champion, square off in a singles match. Then they’ll join with KABC radio personality Ken Minyard and KHJ-TV’s Geoff Edwards for the first of two celebrity doubles matches.

The foundation cares for burn victims and educates them in the treatment of burns.

White linen, candelabra and flowers created a French scene for the Bastille Day party The Circle, the Palos Verdes Community Arts Assn. support group, hosted under the stars around the landmark statue of King Neptune at Malaga Cove Plaza on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

As chairman, Barbara McCoy brought in Somerset Caterers for French cuisine.

Longtime Palos Verdes Art Center supporters, Mildred and Grant Beckstrand, were honorary chairmen.

Alvin Malinow, civic leader and businessman, received USO’s Distinguished American Award at the annual meeting for his work in strengthening the USO’s financial base.

Former recipient Johnny Grant, KTLA’s vice president of public affairs, presented the award.

Kathryn Carpenter sings a farewell performance at a tea for the Loren L. Zachary Society for the Performing Arts. Then she departs for a two-year contract at the opera in Bremen, West Germany.

The Newspace 10th anniversary thank-you show Tuesday evening was awash in Cointreau Margaritas. Joni Gordon, owner/director, led the festivities. The show continues through Aug. 3, with past and present works on view.