A Celebrity Carnival Celebration
Hearts and flowers. And a special valentine to one of Los Angeles’ most special weekend happenings, happily returning Saturday, March 7.
It’s the United Friends of the Children’s annual Celebrity Carnival and Softball Game at MacLaren Children’s Center. Motion Picture Assn. President Jack Valenti is the day’s honorary chairman--and the group is aces, the same women who week after month after year are a constant volunteer presence at the county center for abused children.
Once a year, though, in their continuing attempts to persuade the kids at “Mac” how important and special each one of them is, United Friends puts on a celebration that makes everything short of the Olympics pale. It’s a carnival, it’s a party, it’s dozens of stars for kids to hold hands with, have their pictures taken with, and talk to.
The Celebrity Day starts with breakfast at the home of Henry and Stacey Winkler. Then, on the bus to “Mac,” already signed up are: Whoopi Goldberg, (California’s Republican) Sen. Pete and Gayle Wilson, Ally Sheedy, Nell Carter, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Cal.), Jameson Parker, Ed Begley Jr., “L.A. Law’s” Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker, Supervisor Mike Antonovich, the entire San Francisco 49ers roster (flown down again this year by Air Cal), Pee-wee Herman, Chevy Chase, Michael J. Fox and Howard Hesseman. Other favorites represented that day are Haagen-Dazs ice cream, Taco Bell, Yoplait yogurt and Laguna cookies--all donated.
(Too bad, we can’t acknowledge the pizza-parlor owner who every year donates molti pies--but who, when his gift was credited last year, found himself deluged with requests for freebees. Salute, Tony--we know who you are.)
United Friends of the Children, founded by Nancy Daly seven years ago, spearheaded the effort to create and develop the Los Angeles County Children’s Services Department. And this year, United Friends and its current president Judy Reisberg are thanking special friends, who, though the efforts of the group, have given MacLaren close to $2 million in money and services--in some cases, donating help and expertise that is priceless.
United Friends are thanking, among others, Saul Breton Foundation, Wasserman Foundation, Columbia Pictures, Gulf & Western, Times Mirror Foundation, Neil Papiano, William Keck II Foundation, longtime “Mac” friend E. Duke Vincent, Hollywood Park Racing Charities, Kristi Jorde Roche, Variety Club (which has given United Friends for “Mac” two Sunshine Coaches), CalArts, the Gannett Foundation, Bruce Corwin, Barbara Field and Standard Brand’s Stuart Buchalter.
OOPS!--The 60th birthday party for Republican consultant Stu Spencer is set for next Friday, not Friday the 13th.
UPCOMING SATURDAYS--Don’t forget that tonight’s the Starlight Foundation’s annual black-tie dinner, this year honoring Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. The event at the Bonaventure Hotel is set to raise more than $400,000. . . . Sammy Davis Jr. gets honored as the Citizen of the Year by the Beverly Hill Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Dr. Murray M. Hausner, the chamber president, will present the award. Leonard Wasserstein is the evening’s chair, and Charles P. Reilly and Vicki Reynolds co-chairmen. . . . The Shakespeare League of Pasadena--the junior division of the Shakespeare Club of Pasadena, holds its 41st annual benefit production March 7. “Good News”--and it is, since the proceeds from the event will benefit the Assn. of Retarded Citizens of the San Gabriel Valley of Pasadena. . . .