Gala Raises $400,000 for Hospital

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center in Culver City were the recipients of $400,000 raised at the United Hostesses Charities’ annual ball Nov. 3 at the Beverly Hilton. Ilene Nathan is president. Cheri Yousem and Bea Stern co-chaired.

* Big Sisters Guild of Los Angeles held its fourth annual gala fund-raiser, “Dionne, Sisters & Friends,” honoring Dionne Warwick and Neil Simon, on Nov. 17 at the Bonaventure Hotel. The event, attended by more than 1,200 guests, raised $350,000 for the program that provides friendship, love, guidance and support for disadvantaged girls ages 6 to 16. Honorary co-chairs were Clive Davis, Sherry Lansing and Diahann Carroll.

* The Los Angeles Master Chorale will receive $170,000, proceeds from its 27th annual benefit, the “Magical Madrigal Ball,” held Nov. 16 at the Biltmore. Funds will help underwrite the operating costs of the Master Chorale, which produces its own season and serves as the resident chorus for the Los Angeles Music Center Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The dinner, dance and silent auction were chaired by Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch.

* Los Angeles Rescue Mission received a surprise donation of $1,410 from the cast and crew of “Phantom of the Opera.” The money was raised during their “Phamily” affair Pumpkin Fest Nov. 1. The event consisted of a pumpkin dessert bake-off, pie-eating contest, and raffle. The mission also received the leftover baked goods. Cast member Irene Cho coordinated the in-house event.

* Visual Communications, the oldest Asian-Pacific cultural media arts organization in the United States, celebrated its 20th year with a multimedia production Nov. 17 at the Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. The event netted $20,000, matching a challenge grant from the California Community Foundation. Proceeds will be used to develop and continue film and video screenings, publications and photographic archives.

* Cedars-Sinai Heart Transplant Fund benefited from the “Evening With Carroll Shelby” tribute dinner and roast, attended by more than 1,200 guests Nov. 17 in Palm Springs. Automotive legend Shelby underwent a heart transplant earlier this year. The event, which netted more than $30,000, was held in conjunction with the Palm Springs Road Races. Dinner host was Skip Stephenson.

* Eastside AIDS-Thon, a three-mile walk from the Los Angeles Music Center to Olvera Street on Nov. 4 raised $209,000, and an additional $10,000 check was presented by Vidmark Entertainment. The funds will be used to educate minority communities about AIDS. Twenty local AIDS groups participated.

* Boys and Girls Club of Whittier raised more than $100,000 at its “Bids for Kids” auction Nov. 10 at the Anaheim Marriott. The Whittier club serves 1,000 boys and girls ages 7 to 18. Terrence Thompson chaired the event.

* City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte received $20,000 for patient care, research and medical education on Oct. 25, proceeds from a promotion run by Entenmann’s Inc./Oroweat Foods in Southern California. The sponsors donated 5 cents for each loaf of two varieties of bread sold during a three-week period in September.

* Jewish Homes for the Aging, Grancell Village Campus, was the beneficiary of the “Object of Beauty” premiere, silent auction and buffet held Nov. 7 at the Columbia Studios Cary Grant Theater. The fund-raiser, attended by 300 guests, was underwritten by the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation. It netted $50,000 for the outreach day program. Event organizers were Ellie Colby, Addie Ross, Zucky Altman and Ruth Fischer.

* Public Counsel received $25,000, net proceeds of the “Art in the Public Interest” auction hosted by Galerie Michael on Nov. 14. Public Counsel, the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the United States, celebrated its 20th year of service to the needy of Los Angeles. The event was co-sponsored by the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County bar associations.

* AIDS Project Los Angeles received a $10,000 donation from KPWR-FM radio, net proceeds from the station’s “House Party” and fireworks spectacular Nov. 18 at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. This was the fifth “Powerhouse” party in four years. The station has raised a total of $40,000 to help the APLA provide mental health services, housing, food, clothing, dental care and education for patients.

* San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic, a Northridge facility that works with emotionally disturbed children and their families, was awarded a $2,000 grant from Safeco Insurance Companies. The funds, received Nov. 19, will be used to purchase survival supplies as part of the clinic’s disaster- preparedness program.

* Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s department of costumes and textiles will receive five 18th-Century French silk purses, purchased by Martell Cognac and Angeles Magazine with the $5,000 raised at the Nov. 28 “Scents of Beverly Hills” event at I. Magnin Beverly Hills. The show featured spring ’91 styles and the scents of Ungaro/Diva, Escada, Karl Lagerfeld for House of Chanel/Chanel No. 5, Romeo Gigli, Gianfranco Ferre and Guerlain.