Fund-Raiser Had Animal Magnetism

Invitations to nibble and nip proved to be successful draws at a pair of recent fund-raisers.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center’s therapeutic horseback riding program and the programs of Canine Companions for Independence shared proceeds from the July 31 “Benefit Bash of Gastronomical Proportions,” given on the grounds of the Rancho Santa Fe Polo Club. A larger-than-anticipated crowd of 500 turned out to sample daring treats prepared by local and Hollywood notables, sip choice vintages poured by a dozen California wineries and watch as top polo teams thundered past on the playing field. The Mar Dels heated up the day with their performances of wild ‘50s and ‘60s rock.

A few celebrity chefs broiled under the sizzling sun, but most toiled under the shelter of a white marquee cooled by a convenient and convivial breeze. The grub in most cases went fast; former Congressman Clair Burgener quickly disposed of his famous green chile quiche, and then toured the tent with his wife, Marvia, sampling such creations as retired Top Gun pilot Lew Hoyt’s “Secret Ancient Fighter Pilot” barbecued ribs.

Television personality Kathi Diamant brought several gallons of an innocent-looking but potent garlic-artichoke dip, which her culinary sidekick, Dodie Garner, promised would “lower anyone’s voice an octave.” Bill Beckley, Betty Harford and Virginia Hawkins, a threesome of actors from the nighttime TV soap opera “Dynasty,” brought piles of English sausage rolls and buckets of “Texas strawberries,” or red beans prepared Abilene-style.

In a gesture that would never occur to the vast majority of party planners, the invitations suggested that pets would be happier if they were left at home. But Canine Companions brought a few of its specially trained pooches, and the Woodward Center several of its handsome and patient horses. The critters attended to give guests firsthand lessons in the practical therapeutic benefits that animals can offer to people suffering from a variety of physical and mental handicaps.

The equestrian program, for example, is used with some success in the treatment of autistic youngsters, and the Canine Companions, specially bred and carefully trained dogs of several breeds, assist their masters in various specific functions. “Service” dogs pull wheelchairs, flip light switches and fetch items for the physically handicapped; “signal” dogs alert the hearing-impaired to crucial daily sounds, such as a knock at the door or a crying baby, and “social” dogs provide affectionate companionship to convalescents and the developmentally disabled. Patients of both the equestrian and canine programs were present to demonstrate the working relationships they have developed with these exceptional animals.

Local Canine Companions Director Karen Luton said she hoped that the guests were indeed “going to the dogs.”

“All the money we raise today will do so much for those physically disabled persons who can benefit from relationships with animals,” she said. “Programs like the Woodward Center’s therapeutic riding free people from their wheelchairs,” she said. Bryce Rhodes, president of the Woodward Center and grandson of founder Helen Woodward, added simply that the two groups’ programs “promote independent living for disabled people.”

A total of $26,000 was raised by ticket sales and by an auction of items ranging from the grand--a 1988 Cadillac--to the offbeat--custom-knit dog coats.

The guests settled down to the bidding after first filling up on snacks provided by celebrity chefs Sue Delany, Pete Pedersen, Dianne Piastro, Bill Griffith and Laura Buxton, Jim Bowers, Jim Mills, Sandy Shapery, Win Rhodes-Bea, Marne Hadden, Jeff Smullen and Brooks Firestone.

The culinary centerpiece of the American Institute of Wine and Food auction given Sunday at the home of fabled foodies Piret and George Munger was the Mungers’ famous “trash can chili,” brewed in metal trash cans.

Bowls of the spicy concoction were handed out to the 350 guests who, per party instructions, duded down in Western wear, sometimes authentic and sometimes interpreted through the eyes of Italian designers. Seating for the outdoor buffet and auction was on bales of hay, an easily obtained item for the Mungers, who live in the wilds of the Del Mar-Rancho Santa Fe horse country.

This party, the third in an annual series, has a participatory potluck policy that this time around resulted in a buffet of Southwestern salads and such sweet oddities as a chile pepper-heated chocolate cake. The dessert table abandoned the highfalutin frivolities of other years and concentrated on such homely Americana as Oreo cookies, juicy peach cobblers and pineapple upside-down cake.

The auction organizers rounded up a startling collection of items, ranging from restaurant meals at top spots in New York and San Francisco to extended holidays at luxurious wine country retreats, lavish dinner parties in local private homes, the right to have one’s own recipes transformed into low-calorie versions and reprinted in Jeanne Jones’ nationally syndicated column, a duck hunting expedition (dinner included, hunting license excluded) and extraordinary bottles of wine.

The committee and guest lists included Elizabeth and Bill Zongker, Lois and Bill Stanton, Doralece Lipoli, Margaret and Eric Loos, Sandy and Bob Rosenthal, Pat and Al JaCoby, Aage and Veryl Frederiksen, Joy and Fred Frye, Edith and Milt Kodmur, Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan, Edie and Dean Greenberg, Kate Adams, Judy and Stephen Smith, Kay and David Porter, Ann and Sam Armstrong, Bea and Bob Epsten and Nancy and Henry Hester.

LA JOLLA--Those of you who are not as geographically illiterate as the average American seems to still be may have a thing or two to learn. An Oklajollan, for example, is an Oklahoman who has lived a certain number of years within sight of La Jolla Cove.

Cuilly Burdett is one of the leading exemplars of this rare breed, and the other night he was host to a carload of former home folks--mostly “summer Texans,” the Lone Star State gang that descends upon La Jolla each August--to an exhibit of Dallasite-Del Martian Jodie Biddle’s “new” French impressionist oils. Plenty of La Jollans were on hand as well for another evening in the monthlong series of parties that ignites automatically every time the out-of-towners and locals come into contact.

The party had rather unusual roots, based primarily in the high prices recently brought at auctions of famous paintings. Biddle, who described her work as “somewhere between a hobby and a profession,” decided 10 months ago to begin painting copies of works by Van Gogh, Monet and other impressionists that were being sold primarily to collectors in Japan.

“Jodie’s idea was to copy the famous painting before they went to Japan, and I said if she did, I’d give her a show,” Burdett explained. The show covered the walls of the Terrace Room at La Valencia Hotel, and sold rapidly as the 150 guests snapped up what artist Biddle called her “fabulous fakes.” One of the first pieces to sell was what Biddle called her “$50-million ‘Iris,’ ” a copy of the Van Gogh work that recently brought that price.

The guest list included part-time Texans Anne and Steve Rooth, Virginia Linthicum and Nancy and Hap Chandler, all of whom also own houses here; singer John Raitt and his wife, Mary Lou; Jean Truesdale; Valerie Preiss and Harry Cooper; Janet Gallison with Walter Fitch; Legler Benbough; Mary Lou Young; Carolyn and Arthur Hooper; Betty and Dan Hoffman; Norma and Ollie James, and Sarah and David Burton.