Dinner Dishes Up $300,000 for Israeli University

West Coast Friends of Bar-Ilan University raised $300,000 at a 35th anniversary celebration attended by 500 black-tie guests Jan. 28 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The university presented its highest honor, an honorary doctorate, to Henry G. Plitt. The proceeds will be used for programs at the Israeli university. Sherry Lansing of Jaffe/Lansing Productions was dinner chair.

* Maple Center held its annual dinner-dance, themed “Starry, Starry Night,” Oct. 10 at the Beverly Hilton, raising $230,000 for the center’s community mental health services in Beverly Hills. Angela Lansbury presented the center’s distinguished community service award to Carol and Jerry Katzman. Ava and Charles Fries and Judy and Donald Simon were co-chairs.

* Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) held its annual fund-raiser Dec. 5 at the Century Plaza Hotel and Towers. Net proceeds of $250,000 will support MALDEF’s programs in education, employment, voting rights, immigration, language rights and access to justice. Lawrence A. Del Santo, chairman and CEO of Lucky Stores Inc., was chairman.

* Friends of the Los Angeles Free Clinic’s 14th Annual Roast on Dec. 7 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire raised $367,000 for free medical and dental services, legal and psychological counseling, a high-risk youth program and a help line at the clinic. Tom Hoberman was dinner chair. Co-chairs: Mimi West and Ellen Hoberman.

* Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation has raised more than $130,000 for veterans service organizations in the Los Angeles County area as of Jan. 14 through the sale of the “Veteran Support Bracelets” and other projects. Service organizations that will share in the proceeds are USA Give Inc., Desert Shield Families, Veterans North East Outreach Center, Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Emergency Assistance Program, the Institute of Behavioral Medicine (Santa Barbara), American Gold Star Mothers, the American GI Forum Veterans Outreach Program (Denver) and the Agent Orange Community Support Group (Burbank).

* Jewish Big Brothers of Los Angeles announced a two-year, $30,000 grant from National Medical Enterprises Inc. Jan. 18. Proceeds will fund a program that matches boys and girls with hearing impairments or developmental or physical disabilities with volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters who have similar disabilities. The grant also will pay for conversion of two vans to make them wheelchair-accessible and for other needs of the organization.

* T. J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research received $15,000 raised by MTV’s and Pepsi-Cola’s presentation of the second annual Rock ‘N’ Jock Softball Challenge in Los Angeles Jan. 12. The softball team for MTV featured musicians, actors and athletes. Most valuable players were were Tommy Lee of Motley Crue and Bobby Bonilla of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

* Venice Family Clinic is the recipient of $5,000 raised at the James Bond memorabilia auction at Hollywood Book and Poster Store Dec. 16. More than 300 guests viewed the 100 items to be auctioned. The big draw was the original bound script from the 1965 film “Thunderball,” which sold for $1,550. Steve Rubin was auctioneer.

* Motion Picture and Television Fund received $84,200, presented Dec. 13 by Screen Smart Set’s outgoing president, Margaret Ferraro. The occasion was the installation luncheon welcoming new officers. Maris Fehr is the 1991 president. Smart Set raised a total of $159,200 in 1990 through its annual fashion show and auction, luncheons and Cinema Glamour Shop.

* American Diabetes Assn., Los Angeles Chapter was awarded $70,000 by the United Way Discretionary Funds Committee Nov. 1. The grant will enable the chapter to begin a diabetes awareness program in the black communities of Los Angeles County.

* Boys and Girls Club of Whittier raised $17,000 through club fund-raisers for a party Dec. 9 for 300 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 13. Each child received a gift. In addition, 170 children were allowed to select a complete outfit, including shoes, for school. J. C. Penney’s store employees donated their time to assist the children. Jaclyn Tilley Hill, board vice president, was chair.