Good Grades at the 7th Medici Awards

Corporations, as well as individuals, got A’s for good works at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Medici Awards affair at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.

The event is the annual summertime black-tie party inaugurated by Caroline Ahmanson seven years ago to promote the business community’s support of culture. Chamber chairman James P. Miscoll, vice chairman of Bank of America, and James D. Farley, vice chairman of Citicorp/Citibank, joined chamber president Ray Remy in tributes.

Honorees are Arco and its president Robert Wycoff, for arts preeminence; Hitachi and Masayuki Kohama, international cooperation; James Irvine Foundation and its president Dennis Collins, grant making; Fred Nicholas, individual recognition as chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art and chairman of the Music Center Walt Disney Concert Hall; Pacific Enterprises and its president Willis B. Wood, major funding, and Bank of A. Levy/Achille Levy Foundation for service in another county (Ventura).

TRADITION: Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin and his wife, actress-singer Connie Towers, hosted the wedding reception for her son and new daughter-in-law, the Michael McGraths (Janette Covington) at the San Marino home of former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Peter H. and Jackie Dailey. The Gavins wed there also.

I DO: Nancy Dinsmore, West Coast editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and the handsome Arden Lapham Day Jr., insurance executive, surprised friends with their quiet wedding at the hilltop home of retired Superior Court Judge Richard L. Wells, who performed the ceremony. Nancy is the widow of Wayne Dinsmore Jr.

SOCIAL SCENE: Wolfgang Puck has penned notes, putting a lot of personal effort into the American Cancer Society’s sixth annual “California Spirit VI” gourmet gala (the Los Angeles Coastal Cities Unit) next Sunday at the legendary Robert Taylor estate in Brentwood. Sherry Lansing chairs the host committee.

UNIQUE: Awards come often in the form of plaques, letters and engraved trinkets. When Gordon Davidson, the Mark Taper Formum’s executive director, became first recipient of Loyola Marymount University’s Art and Social Conscience award, the university presented him with a portrait of himself and a mask that has an introspective gaze, different from theater’s traditional masks of tragedy and comedy.

Davidson received the award at a dinner last week at the Blue Ribbon Room of the Music Center, with wife Judi looking on, as well as Father James N. Loughran, president of Loyola, and dinner chairmen Fiorenza Falzone Courtright and M. M. Miller, and benefactor Alyce Williamson. The university’s theater arts department benefits.

PAST PERFECT: Zollie and Elaine Frank of Morningside and Tamarisk Country Clubs in Rancho Mirage giving $250,000 for Palm Springs Senior Center. . . .

The Prada shop’s six-month anniversary at Prego with Judy Leaf hosting, and multi-guests: Norman Leaf, Wendy Goldberg, Annabelle Weston. . . .

Chandler School’s Fiesta totaling $125,000.

PERFECT TOO: The Art Center One Hundred’s luncheon at the Beach Club hosted by Alyce Williamson.

THE TOWN: Partners for the Music Center Unified Fund write letters. That’s how they raise money. They estimate that 11,000 letters, going out from 500 volunteers in 23 different groups this year, brought in $1,216,000.

Outgoing chairman Joan MacLaughlin (it was her birthday and Music Center President Esther Wachtell’s, as well) praised the take and turned the gavel over to Vera Panosian at a luncheon underwritten by Robinson’s. Singled out for excellence were the Junior Philharmonic Committee and Judy Needham, Friends of the Hollywood Bowl and Kathie Elowitt and the Opera League and Toni Bird. Pianist Wendy Chen topped the day with Chopin.

KUDOS: To O’Melveny & Myers and attorney Chuck Diamond, receiving the Champion of Children Award at the 73rd annual meeting of Children’s Institute International, for their pro bono work for the institute since 1984 on the McMartin Preschool case. Ann Petroni matched the firm with CII, and her husband, Don Petroni, an O’Melveny lawyer, also attended.

VISIONS: Directors of the Historical Society of Southern California presented 1990 Fellows “with a vision for history.” They are Nancy Banning Call, Robert V. Hine, John H. Kemble, Doyce B. Nunis Jr. and Andrew F. Rolle.

AGENDAS: Santa Monicans Earl and Carol Fisher hosted the buffet supper to launch the Malibu Strawberry Creek Music Festival, which continues through Aug. 11 . . . .

Maggie and George Jagels of San Marino entertained in their garden to fete the Homemaker Service of Pasadena Area Inc. . . .

The First Chair Society and the directors of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra hosted the champagne/wine tasting at the home of Jane Arnault to meet orchestra members. . . .

Ruth Wagner, outgoing president of League for Crippled Children, presented $115,000 to Dr. James Luck, CEO of Orthopaedic Hospital, at a luncheon at Jimmy’s.

FOURTH FROLICS: Les Dames of Los Angeles took over Joey Leslie’s San Marino estate--with Francine Maroney and Oliva Varga doing it up in red, white and blue for the Los Angeles consular corps families.