Party Plans Are Put on the Shelf at United Way

United Way has always celebrated the end of its annual fund-raising campaign, but there will be no party this year. United Way anticipates raising only $90 million, $12 million short of its $102-million goal. Hard-working volunteers can’t spare a dime for partying.

Last year, United Way raised a record $93 million, on a goal of $95 million. Then, at a festive dinner at the Bonaventure, leaders took their bows to lively applause. With the shortfall--blamed on the recession, rising unemployment, corporate profit losses and the plunge in consumer confidence--the agency’s allocations could be cut 17%.

OUR CARNEGIE: Philanthropist-inventor Arnold Beckman blew out the candles on his 91st birthday cake, and Nobel laureate Dr. James D. Watson (discoverer of the DNA structure) pronounced him “our Andrew Carnegie.”

Then, presenting to Beckman the Achievement in Excellence Award at the Center for Excellence in Education dinner at the Century Plaza Tower, California First Lady Gayle Wilson announced: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.”

Founder and chairman emeritus of Beckman Instruments Inc., Beckman has given lots: $50 million to the University of Illinois; $40 million (with $10 million more to come) to Caltech, his alma mater.

Also, along with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, he’s in the National Inventors Hall of Fame for the invention of the pH meter for use in citrus-processing plants. He helped develop pollution-control and smog-warning procedures for Los Angeles County. He has the Medal of Science from President George Bush.

At the dinner, headed by the center’s chairman, Michael H. Jordan, chairman of PepsiCo Inc. (Pepsi and Fritos were served during the cocktail hour), Beckman lamented the standards of education and ethics in the United States: “The word integrity seems to be lost in our vocabulary.”

The Center for Excellence in Education was founded by the late Adm. H. G. Rickover. Headed by Joann P. DiGennaro, it seeks out the brightest science and math students and provides them with a six-week intensive summer Research Science Institute. The goal is more Nobel laureates.

Ashley Reiter, winner of the $40,000 Westinghouse grand prize, and a center “Rickoid,” was in the audience. Dinner co-chairmen Milton and Betty Dranow and Tom and Debbie Shapiro greeted guests. More in the crowd: Jerry Churchill, Bill McCormick and his fiancee Mayling Dodgen, Keith and William Kieschnick and Robert Strub.

TRIUMPH: Marcia Israel, chairwoman of the Stop Cancer premiere screening of Turner Pictures’ “Chernobyl: The Final Warning” Tuesday night in Westwood, had expected to raise $750,000.

By selling theater seats, and with major benefactors, she’s announcing a $1.5-million net for cancer research.

Says Marcia, whose husband Larry has been battling the disease, “I wanted to make a difference.”

The night was a tribute to the late Dr. Armand Hammer. Jason Robards, who plays Hammer in the picture, wasn’t there, but Jon Voight, who plays Dr. Robert Gale, was, as well as star Sammi Davis, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and wife Lois, former Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin and wife Constance; Anne Jeffreys, Rhonda Fleming and Ted Mann.

Twenty-four restaurants bombarded the buffets with wonders while Russian dancers and Italian accordionists roamed. Ted Turner and Jane Fonda arrived too late to receive official thanks for donating the docudrama, but they stayed for the party.

EXEMPLARY: Donald R. Beall, chairman and CEO of Rockwell International, was crowned with the Exemplary Leadership in Management Award by the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA.

There to see him announce that “finishing second is clearly unacceptable” in this world of technology were his wife Joan, sons Ken and Jeff, and his mother Margaret.

Marilyn McCoo, UCLA business graduate, emceed. Norm Crosby had the crowd in the aisles with his malapropisms, such as “business typhoons” and “reaching the top of the pinochle.”

Dynamos in the audience: John (chairman of the Anderson School Board of Visitors) and Marion Anderson, Joseph F. Alibrandi, Roy and Lila Ash, Dean Clay and Barbara La Force, Esther Wachtell with son Roger, Peter and Pam Mullin, Li and Grace Yu, C. Y. Chang, Jim Miscoll, John and Joan Hotchkis.

HOT INVITATION: Louise Reich and Susan Kranwinkle are cut-ups. This is the way their invitation read to lady friends: “Maria sighed deeply as Frederick’s strong, calloused hands stroked her trembling shoulders. Her voice quivering, she kissed Frederick gently and said . . . Louise Reich and Susan Kranwinkle invite you to a tribute to Danielle Steel . . . (dress appropriately)”

PAST PERFECT: The Los Angeles Orphanage Guild celebrated its 40th anniversary, chaired by Jody Bergin and Anne McKinley at the Bel-Air Country Club . . . .

Liz Anderson hosted a big birthday party for husband Gordon at their new home in San Marino . . . .

Pat Gaver and Bitsy Hotaling hosted spring lunch at the Bel-Air Bay Club.

SPRING LILT: Villa Esperanza Guild hosts its spring fashion luncheon April 25 at the new Ritz-Carlton, Huntington. Ethel Stabile and Phyllis Hjelte have asked Jess and Phyllis Marlow to be emcees . . . .

ONWARD: The Pasadena Historical Society will happily celebrate the groundbreaking of the Pasadena History Center at 470 W. Walnut April 28.