Reagans Will Join AIDS Fund-Raiser

NO REGRETS--In fact, it’s an acceptance by the First Reagans to the May 31 fund-raising dinner for the American Foundation for AIDS Research in D.C. No announcement from the foundation as yet, but the honoree will be Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

MISTAKEN REGRETS--It’s been on, then off, then on again. But Operation California’s Richard Walden assured us Tuesday morning that it’s all been just a mistake in the bureaucracy. Operation California--the organization that has delivered more than $50 million in aid to 27 countries--was set to present its 1987 Human Achievement Award to Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Usually reticent to accept awards, Aquino agreed to receive this honor, Walden said, after he and others met with her twice in the Philippines. According to Walden, Operation California then received a letter from a minor appointments secretary, turning down the honor. This after 3,000 invitations to the organization’s annual fund raiser were in the mail--carrying the announcement that Aquino would accept the honor, not here at the dinner, but in Manila immediately afterward. After receiving the regrets, Walden talked to the Philippine minister of health, who officially received most of the $1.4 million in aid from Operation California in the past six months. Walden said he was assured that it was a bureaucratic snafu--and that another letter would be forthcoming. Because of the political situation in the Philippines, Aquino will receive the honor there, Walden said, from Julie Andrews, chairwoman of the May 29 event at the Beverly Hilton.

GALA-GALA GALA--First word has come from the Museum of Contemporary Art on the third annual Gala. Putting together the June 5 party and auction at the Beverly Wilshire is Jane Nathanson, a MOCA trustee and Projects’ Council chair, and Joan Hotchkis, Linda Jangen, Kathy Offenhauser, Mimi Meltzer and Gloria Lushing. The prizes will make even L.A. ga-ga. To be auctioned: a trip to Tokyo featuring an architectural tour led by MOCA architect Arata Isozaki; a trip to Milan with a personally conducted tour of Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo’s collection; a trip to Venice with a tour led by Pontus Hulten; a tour of the Peggy Guggenheim Museum there followed by a trip to Paris on the Orient Express; and, a blockbuster day with sculptor George Segal on his New Jersey farm, where the artist will make a body cast of the lucky winner.

MORE PRIZES--When the SHARE women get together for the annual Boomtown Party on May 16, the list of prizes to be auctioned includes a 1987 Mercedes 190E, a Cartier watch, weekends at luxury hotels, and a South Sea island cruise. . . . Sarah Vaughan is the prize package May 21, when the L.A. Chamber Orchestra holds its fifth annual gala at the Century Plaza Hotel. William Christopher (“MASH’s” Father Mulcahy) is emcee and Kay Duke Ingalls is chairing. Among the expected guests: Dr. Hal and Rosalind Millstone, Stella Zadeh and David Gersh and Royce and Jennifer Deiner. . . .

SNIFFLES--Our friends at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation have sent us an allergy alert--and a number to call if “warning signs” show up. Frequent colds, a rash or itching, wheezing with exercise, itchy eyes and throat are just some of the signals. A call to (800) 624-0044 will bring free literature on allergic disease, answers to questions and referrals to community resources.