Music Center Surpasses ’87 Funding Goal

Expect word next week from the Music Center that the $12.3-million goal of the Unified Fund was not merely met, but exceeded. The figure to be reported, insiders say, will be more than $12.7 million. The goal was 30% up from the $9.5 million raised in fiscal ’86.

GEORGIA PEACHY--That’s what Marianne and Kenny Rogers are hoping life down on the farm is, when they pull up Bev Hills roots and move full-time to their Athens, Ga., farm late this month. Lee Minnelli hosted a goodby lunch for the beautiful blonde at the Bistro Garden on Thursday. Ultra-glamorous Jolene Schlatter popped around taking pictures of Marianne’s good buddy Phyllis George Brown, Janet de Cordova in a bright yellow suit, Ginny Mancini (just back from Venice), Beverly Morsey (just back from a U.S. motor trip), Mary Carol Rudin (Mickey was shaping up in La Costa) and Cyd Charisse, just back from Britain. Phyllis confided that an announcement was coming in a few weeks about her new business venture, a supermarket-available gourmet fast food. (Remember hubby John Y. Brown is the person who brought Kentucky Fried to America.)

As far as the move, Marianne Rogers said she just kept thinking, “I’ll get it done tomorrow.”. . . Moving around the Bistro Garden was like looking through a VIP list. Erlenne Sprague, Chardee Trainer, Giney Milner and Nancy Livingston were together, talking about the “Firing Line” show with the presidential Democratic candidates (the three Nancy Reagan buddies listening to Democrat Livingston’s views). Chatting it up--Nancy Vreeland, her mother Ruth March, Peggy Parker and Barbro Taper. Coastal Commissioner Mark Nathanson was at Greg Bautzer’s regular table--even though Mr. Attorney was in Europe with Kirk Kerkorian for the opening of the new MGM/UA’s James Bond movie. Lunching and talking politics with Nathanson: Steve Besse, chief of staff for City Attorney Jimmy Hahn, and Chuck Fuentes, Hahn’s chief deputy. Nearby, another Bautzer lunchtime regular, his law partner, Howard Weitzman.

BIG ANNIVERSARY--It’s City of Hope’s 75th--and certainly expect fireworks of the celebrity kind. Sen. Ted Kennedy addresses a black-tie dinner next Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton--all part of the medical center’s three-day national convention. Other celebs--Norm Crosby, Rue McClanahan, Florence Henderson, Peter Marshall, Lynn Redgrave, Pia Zadora (she heads the entertainment at the closing dinner July 13) and Rhonda Fleming Mann. City of Hope President Abe Bolsky, who heads the Tishman Corp., Friday night sets the partying off for local and national board members with a dinner at the Hotel Bel-Air. And a philanthropic highlight--Isadore Familian will be honored for 50 years of service to the Duarte center.