Benefits for Sickle Cell, AIDS Hospice, Others

The Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation held its seventh Annual Radiothon Oct. 21 at the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza, raising more than $45,000. Proceeds will be used for summer camp, research, genetic counseling and education. Mary E. Brown is executive director of the foundation.

* The AIDS Hospice Foundation’s premiere screening of “Mother, Mother” Dec. 6 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood raised $60,000 for the AIDS Hospice Foundation/Chris Brownlie Hospice. Patty Duke was mistress of ceremonies.

* The Diabetes Unit Group-Cedars Sinai Medical Center had its 15th annual membership luncheon Dec. 7 at the Four Seasons Hotel. A check for $150,000 was presented to Cedars-Sinai for education, research and patient care. Lynn Klinenberg and Marie Borofsky were luncheon chairs.

* The Art for Milk Silent Art Auction Dec. 8 at the Schwartz Cierlak Gallery in Santa Monica netted $22,000 to purchase milk for homeless children at the Venice Bible Tabernacle, Canyon Country Shelter and other agencies that feed and house children. John Babiak, Steve and Candace Garvey, Helen Reddy, and Dr. John and Paula Rowland were among co-chairmen of the event.

* The Pasadena Posada, a candlelight walk for AIDS, held Dec. 9 raised more than $100,000 for the All Saints AIDS Service Center. Michael Gross, Meshach Taylor, Barbara Babcock and John Van de Kamp were among the 1,000 participants in the benefit walk.

* The Big Sisters Guild of Los Angeles held its third annual fund-raiser Dec. 9 at the Hollywood Palladium and netted $355,000. EPI Products donated $100,000 to underwrite the benefit. Sarah Purcell and Lois Sarkissian were event chairwomen.

* The Assistance League of Southern California, Anne Banning Auxiliary, held its annual benefit, “Dreams Do Come True,” Dec. 9 at the Century Plaza. The fund-raising luncheon netted $103,000 for Operation School Bell, which provides new clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, combs, and hairbrushes for needy schoolchildren.

* The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, a distributor of food and clothing to local charities, received a donation of 1,000 pairs of children’s shoes Dec. 12 from L.A. Gear, a sponsor of the L.A. Raiders’ Raiderettes. L.A. Gear learned of the food bank through Raiderette Bonnie Cordobes, who has worked with the charity during the last seven annual L.A. Raiders food drives in which fans brought canned food donations to games.

* The Venice Family Clinic coordinated a fund-raising event on Dec. 16 that provided a screening of “Back to the Future Part II” for 800 underprivileged children from neighborhood shelters and Head Start programs. The Cineplex Odeon Corp. provided the new Cineplex Odeon Broadway in the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and donated the four theaters, popcorn and soda for the children. Co-chairmen Ruth Bloom and Lou Pitt said the event raised $55,000 for health care for poor and homeless families.

* The Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California received a donation of 200 toys on Dec. 20, from the St. James Club in West Hollywood. The toys were collected at the Club’s Christmas party, arranged by Ginger Mason, social director. The Society operates seven centers in the Southland, with approximately 250 children attending each center.

* The Motion Picture and Television Fund received a $50,000 contribution Dec. 20 from Giancarlo Parretti, president and CEO, and Alan Ladd Jr., chairman of the board and chief operating officer of Pathe Communications Corp. The donation was given in lieu of holiday business gifts. The fund provides health care and social services to industry members of all ages and occupations.