Kirk Douglases Give $500,000 to L.A. Mission

Los Angeles Mission exceeded its building campaign goal of $11.5 million Jan. 15 with a commitment of $500,000 from actor Kirk Douglas and his wife, Anne. The mission’s new building, at 5th and Wall streets in downtown Los Angeles, is expected to open in May. A new separate facility will be named the Anne Douglas Women’s Shelter.

Sephardic Hebrew Academy’s kickoff of the 2-year “Project Rediscovery: 1492-1992” program raised more than $500,000. The Jan. 3 celebration at the Beverly Hilton commemorated the announcement that King Juan Carlos of Spain will rescind his forbears’ edict of expulsion 500 years ago that forced more than 400,000 Jews from Spain. Dignitaries from Israel, Spain, Turkey and Southern California were among the more than 800 black-tie guests. Proceeds will be used for ongoing programs at the kindergarten through eighth-grade academy.

Bet Tzedek, The House of Justice, held its annual dinner-dance Jan. 26 at the Century Plaza Hotel and Tower. The gala netted $250,000 for the 17-year-old organization, which provides free legal services to the poor and elderly.

Professional Dancers Society’s fifth annual award luncheon took place Feb. 3 at the Beverly Hilton. Net proceeds of $50,000 will help establish a retirement home for dancers who are aged and in poor health.

Free Arts for Abused Children has raised $20,000 in sponsorship money for the Los Angeles Marathon on March 3. Proceeds from pledges will be used to bring creative arts activities to abused and neglected children.

Hollenbeck Police Business Council Youth Center raised $85,000 at its luncheon Feb. 5 at the Bonaventure. The money will go toward ongoing programs to keep youths from gang and criminal activities. The 19-year-old center provides activities for boys and girls of East Los Angeles. Daniel Hernandez is executive director.

Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles received a $10,000 antique pool table from actor and comedian Louie Anderson on Feb. 6. The table will be the grand prize at the 10th anniversary President’s Invitational Golf Tournament raffle/benefit to be held May 6 at the Lakeside Golf Club, Toluca Lake.

Muscular Dystrophy Assn. received 10,000 Jan. 1 from contributions collected by employees of Rockwell International’s Los Angeles-area operations. Funds came from payroll contributions to the Rockwell Employee Donate Once Club. The association provides patient care and research for more than 2,000 families affected by muscle diseases in Los Angeles.

Orange County Ronald McDonald House received $4,000 Nov. 14, net proceeds from the third annual Autumn Golf Classic Tournament held at the Yorba Linda Country Club. Mimi’s Cafe, Claim Jumper, Rusty Pelican and Universal Studios Hollywood donated prizes. Scheer Braden Architects sponsored the event. Jerry Dennehy was organizer.

The Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park received a $5,000 grant from the McDonnell Douglas Employees Community Fund Dec. 13. The funds will aid the center in providing services to neurologically handicapped children in Orange and Los Angeles counties. The center received an additional grant of $3,000 from the Sertoma Club of Anaheim and $1,000 from the Orange Empire Sertoma group to be used to purchase audiological equipment.

Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles’ annual Bachelor Auction held Feb. 7 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire had a large assist from “Phantom of the Opera” star Michael Crawford; bidding for the actor raised $22,500. More than 800 women helped boost proceeds to a total of $78,800. The funds will help the group find matches for some of the 350 boys on its waiting list.

Hollywood Arts Council netted $12,500 at its fifth annual awards luncheon on Jan. 25 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The awards luncheon, established to acknowledge sponsors of the council’s “Discover Hollywood: A Festival of the Arts” campaign, honored Frederick’s of Hollywood as the most outstanding sponsor. Other sponsors were also honored.