$103,000 Raised for Disabled

Westside Center for Independent Living held its first “Celebration of Independence” at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel April 27. The black-tie benefit was sponsored by Arco and Coke, and raised $103,000 to aid the center in providing services and advocacy to facilitate independent living for people with disabilities. Paul Steven Miller was dinner chair and Boyd Haigler was fund-raising chair.

* Friends of Child Advocates Auxiliary held its annual benefit, “Western Round-Up,” April 29 at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu. Net proceeds of $55,000 will help abused and neglected children and their families under the jurisdiction of the dependency section of Los Angeles Superior Court. Joan MacLaughlin is president. Marion Napier was benefit chair.

* Chrysalis, a nonprofit, homeless-assistance organization, and the Biltmore Hotel raised more than $75,000 at the third annual “Monte Carlo Night” May 10. Proceeds will benefit Chrysalis’ employment and housing services. The honorary committee was chaired by Mayor Tom Bradley and Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Louis Gossett Jr., Mitch Gaylord, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

* Volunteer Center of Los Angeles’ fourth annual “Human Race,” held in the Wilshire/Hancock Park area May 12, netted $50,000 for nonprofit human service agencies in the Los Angeles area. More than 1,500 runners participated, raising money for the charity of their choice through per-kilometer pledges. Twenty-five percent of the pledges collected went to the Volunteer Center, which recruits and places volunteers for nonprofit organizations. The Carnation Co. sponsored the event.

* UCLA School of Medicine Aesculapians Ball was held May 19 at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The event netted about $115,000 for such ongoing programs as seed grants for basic research, medical student support and purchase of technologically advanced laboratory equipment. John Argue, senior partner in the law firm of Argue, Freston, Pearson, Harbison & Myers was chair.

* Project Angel Food’s star-studded auction of fine art and photography was held May 20 at ACE Gallery and netted more than $500,000. The two highest bids were for works by David Hockney ($35,000) and Robert Mapplethorpe ($15,000). Project Angel Food prepares and delivers hot meals, free of charge, to homebound people with AIDS in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. Proceeds will be used to expand these services. Honorary co-chairs were Berry Berenson and Anthony Perkins. Event co-chairs were Angel Food founder Marianne Williamson and Michael Childers.

* Concern Foundation for Cancer Research’s 16th annual Rodeo Drive Block Party, held May 20 in Beverly Hills, was attended by more than 3,000 guests and netted more than $750,000 for cancer research. Marty Golden is president. Rebecca Golden was event chair.