‘G’-Rated Kidney Foundation Benefit a Big Hit

Connie Frank may have picked up fund-raising tactics from her husband, Disney executive Rich Frank, but it’s no doubt her perseverance that has upgraded the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California benefit.

Six years ago, her format, a bring-the-kids do at Walt Disney Studios, with hot dogs and a film, grossed $18,000. Last Sunday, she almost single-handedly raised $208,000, hosting 950 for a screening of “The Jungle Book,” a silent auction of Disney collectibles, and a photo opportunity with Mickey Mouse and pals.

Proud papa Ed Asner was there with his 3-year-old son, Charlie, for the elephant rides.

Part of the $208,000 (almost all net--the party cost only 1% of this) will go to an endowment fund for a planned camp for children on kidney dialysis.

Meanwhile, Connie is off to Europe with Rich.

THE ORIENT: Lydia Baroness Dunn, the former Dame Lydia Dunn and the senior member of the Hong Kong Executive Council, flew in from Hong Kong with a delegation, including the classy 67-member Royal Hong Kong Police Band, for an alfresco party at the Huntington Library in San Marino celebrating Cathay Pacific Airways’ new nonstop flight between Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Cathay Deputy Chairman Peter Sutch welcomed nearly 400, including California Secretary of State March Fong Eu, Mayor Suzanne Crowell of San Marino, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Susan and Larry Alpert, Kenneth Chan, Baird Bryson, Dunson Cheng and Airport Commissioner Samuel Greenberg.

SUMMERY: Silk and lace dresses, fragrant flowers and a romantic twilight were just what Carlotta Keely ordered for the Hollywood Bowl Patronesses Party, the traditional kickoff for the Hollywood Bowl opening. In fine fettle at the Fremont Place home of Ragnar and Molly Qvale were Bob and Nancy Page, Steve and Clare Wilson and Luigi and Lorna Gentile. The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s top executive, Ernest Fleischmann, paid tribute to the honorees, pianist Mona Golabek and County Supervisor Ed Edelman.

PERSONALITIES: That bulwark of New York society music, Lester Lanin, flew in for the wedding reception of Emily Williamson and Henry Hancock in San Marino. Lanin also had dinner at Jimmy’s with John Seitz and Suzanne Martin Cooke, flew off to Cheyenne for Wyoming’s Centennial Party at the Hitching Post Inn with Gov. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan, then to England to play for Queen Elizabeth’s grand celebration of the Cunard Line’s 150th anniversary. He then boarded the QEII to make music on a 10-day cruise around the British Isles. He also recently played for the Queen’s 63rd birthday . . .

That was Jacques Camus of the Westwood Marquis at Tulipe restaurant with Belgium’s Marie-Christine (sister of King Baudouin) and her husband Jean-Paul Gourgues (a Dana Point resident).

FAN FAREWELLS: The retiring curator of the Henry E. Huntington Art Collections, Robert R. Wark, was in the spotlight at a party hosted by Huntington Art Docents. Bagpipers, vignettes from the 18th-Century play “School for Scandal” and roses from the Huntington were the touches. Docents have created a fellowship for scholarly research in honor of Wark, who will continue to do research at the Huntington. His sister Kay was down from Canada for the affair.

OPENING: Sofia Adamson, a founding trustee of the Pacific Asia Museum, will be honored Saturday at the festive dinner-dance celebrating the opening of “Images of Faith: Religious Ivory Carvings from the Philippines.” The gala, to be held at the Doubletree Hotel, Pasadena, pays tribute to her organization of the museum’s ethnic arts councils. The Philippine Arts Council was the first to be formed. VIP guests will include Father Gabriel Casal, director of the National Museum in Manila, as well as new Philippine Consul General Victor C. Garcia III.

PLAUDITS: Michael Schwartz and Galerie Michael in Beverly Wills join the Spare Change Project July 26 to host “The Fine Art of Helping,” an auction at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel to benefit the homeless. Alzado’s, Cafe Pelican, Orleans and Savories are among numerous restaurants helping to raise funds. They hope for a gross double last year’s $40,000.

DEBUTANTES: Tea chairwoman Patty Pillsbury, National Charity League San Marino-area chapter president Denise Andrews and ball director Caren Cameron greeted more than 500 at the Biltmore tea at which debutantes received the medallions they’ll wear on Dec. 22. Meanwhile, the debs are involved in summer parties, including the Disneyland picnic hosted by Ronald and Betsy Cayo, Mitchell and Janna Howe, Ed and Beth Rettig, William and Dinah Roberts, James and Cherie Saxton and Donald and Gail Titus . . .

Las Patronas, the Assistance League of Ventura County, presented its June debutantes: Gwen Albright, Sara Atkinson, Sara Bafford, Stacey Bae, Kathryn Bryan, Natalie Forbes, Suzanne Fowler, Stephanie Jordan, Karin Lauterbach, Darcy Long, Michelle Meher, Mary McMullin, Allison Odle, Krista Pidduck, Lori Rice, Wendy Schmidgall, Elise Storz, Lisa Swartout, Patricia Thomas, Rhonda Walker, Nicole Wargo, Rebecca Wells and Cara Williams.