Giving Cheer : Southland Charities Find ‘Tis Still the Season for Fund-Raising

In a time of recession, Los Angeles charities have stepped right along, putting on their traditional fund-raising luncheons.

Nancy Polimer, president of the Braille Institute Auxiliary, corraled members and friends for the annual “Expectations” Christmas luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Funds raised will be used to purchase “Expectation Books” for blind children. Most Braille books are circulated on loan through the Library of Congress, but this one a blind child can keep. The “Expectation Books” are in the 42nd edition. This year’s anthology has stories including an ancient Mayan tale, “Why There Is No Arguing in Heaven,” and a fable by folk singer Jimmy Buffett and his daughter, Savannah Jane.

At the 44th annual Delta Delta Delta Sleighbell Luncheon, the Citrus College Singers caroled. Los Angeles Tri Delts were in abundance--Suzanne Dillard, Marjorie Beradino, Mary Memory, Marjorie Drommerhausen. President Judy Jenkins hosted a table including Dr. Stuart Siegel, head of hematology-oncology research at Childrens Hospital, and Dr. Denman Hammond, professor of pediatrics and associate dean of the USC School of Medicine. Tri Delt national president Jean Gaines was in the spotlight. The Southern California alumnae dedication to its cause--hematology and oncology research at Childrens--has been adopted by the national sorority. Thus, Sleighbell Day is celebrated nationwide in December to support cancer programs.

Gifts of clothing, toys, games and books were piled high at the Town and Gown of USC Christmas luncheon on campus. Program co-chairs Diane Becket and Yvonne Biller will see that they are distributed by Cares volunteers to patients at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center on Christmas morning. Members of the faculty wives and faculty women’s clubs joined in the fun, viewing holiday table designs planned by Barbara Gewecke and Janice Ruck. After lunch, the USC Concert Choir directed by James Vail entertained the audience that included Dorothy Hartshorn, Peggy Borsting, Virginia McLarnan, Beatrice Farmer and Dorothy Stanley.

WITH HEART: Fifty teen-age girls from Maryvale, the Los Angeles Orphanage founded in 1856 by the Daughters of Charity, were special guests of Orphanage Guild Juniors at their annual Christmas party and luncheon.

The party originated in 1956 as a small get-together so that girls could celebrate the joys of the holidays in a family atmosphere.

At the party this year at Riviera Country Club, celebrities Kirstie Alley, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Parker Stevenson joined a harpist, pianist, handwriting analyst, rock ‘n’ roll band and Santa. The girls left laden with gifts and Christmas stockings handmade by Juniors. Some of the friendships made at the annual affair have been long-lasting.

OPERA: The Opera Guild of Southern California was launched in 1944 to spur opera development and provide financial support for young singers. Through the years it has produced more than 400 performances for children and has staged yearly auditions helping to launch the careers of stars, including Marilyn Horne and Thomas Hampson.

Later, it established a Junior Guild so that singers 35 and under could participate in master’s classes taught by professionals.

This month, it hosted its annual fund-raising holiday luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire with Esther Williams, the master of ceremonies, and “Mr. Opera” Carl Princi in the spotlight as guest of honor.

BALLET: William F. Christensen, who in 1937 founded the San Francisco Ballet, the first professional ballet company in the United States, was saluted at the 10th anniversary opening gala of the Pasadena Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. Christensen choreographed the first full-length American production of “The Nutcracker” in 1944.

Susan Connell, who chairs Pasadena Dance Theatre (which fosters dance through performances and education), was also in the spotlight at the post-performance champagne supper at the Pasadena Armory Center for the Arts.

THE SEASON: Frank and Edith Wyle hosted a dinner party for donors to the Craft and Folk Art Museum’s Capital Campaign. Among the invited: Magda and Fred Waingrow, Dick and Barbara Carlsberg, Bob and Kathleen Ahmanson, Herbert Hafif, Elaine Attias, Lowell Marks and Harold Williams. The goal is $12 million. So far, the campaign has raised $6.4 million in a year and a half. . . .

Where better? Dolores Milhous’ home on the point of Linda Isle provided exceptional viewing last week for the annual Newport Harbor Boat Parade and the third annual Parade of Lights holiday party hosted by the Laguna Art Museum Board of Trustees.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT: Michael Kazanjian and Kazanjian Brothers of Beverly Hills celebrated the holidays by previewing a 200-carat emerald pendant from the estate of Eva Peron of Argentina. . . .

Kathy Gillespie and the women of the Smith College Club of Pasadena put on a sumptuous buffet during their greenery sale to benefit scholarships. . . .

Event chair Joyce Rosenblum took 15 nieces and nephews to the Los Angeles Children’s Museum benefit matinee performance of “Holiday in Oz” at the Pasadena Playhouse. Kids’ hands-on activities before the performance--making ornaments, cookie cutting, sitting on Santa’s lap in the theater lobby--made the day wilder than a reindeer dash. . . .