L.A.’s Homeless Receive a Special $77,000

Comedian Robin Williams demanded two pieces of identification before he presented Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley with a $77,000 check Tuesday from Comic Relief, a cable television special that was broadcast in March to raise money to aid the homeless.

Laughing, Bradley accepted the contribution on behalf of the Los Angeles Homeless Health Care Project to buy medicine and supplies for the Venice Family Clinic, where the check was presented, and the downtown Union Rescue Mission.

Another $62,500--bringing Comic Relief’s commitment to $139,500 over two years--will be presented later, according to Dennis Albaugh, vice president of the nonprofit fund-raising organization formed in January.

Bradley presented certificates of appreciation to Williams and comedians Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, who hosted a four-hour telethon on Home Box Office’s cable network March 29 and helped raise $2.6 million for distribution to the nation’s homeless.

Bob Zmuda, president of Comic Relief and executive producer of the show, praised the “more than 60 comedians” who contributed to the live comedy event. He also received a certificate of appreciation.

Zmuda pledged that all money raised by Comic Relief will go to programs in 18 cities to aid the homeless. Checks already have been presented to mayors of Chicago, Washington and New York City.

Zmuda announced that a two-hour videocassette called “The Best of Comic Relief” soon will be released to raise more money.

Grabbing one of the cassettes, Williams thrust it toward several television cameras recording the event in the clinic’s hot and crowded reception room.

“One for you, Ron,” he crowed. “One for you, Nancy.”