Operation USA Raises $200,000 at Benefit

Operation USA began its 12th annual fund-raiser wrapped in a fog. When the mist cleared, the charity was ahead $200,000.

The evening commenced with 400 guests driving up the fog-shrouded Pacific Coast Highway to Julie Andrews’ and Blake Edwards’ elegant 7.5-acre estate overlooking the Pacific in Malibu. If there’s such a thing as a ‘90s San Simeon, this is it. Andrews and Edwards have lived there for 20 years, and the grounds are a testament to good taste and great landscaping. “Julie must spend a lot of time digging,” mused one guest.

From the front gate, guests walked 300 yards through the thick mist to the cocktail reception in Edwards’ sculpture studio. The one-room, glass-walled, V-shaped building points to the sea from a grassy promontory. “Xanadu” is the way Ed Asner described the grounds. “I just wish I could see it.”

Although the studio is a large room, it could hold no more than 100 comfortably. Among those packed inside or spilling out onto the lawn were Oliver Stone, Alexandra Paul, Mary and Irving Lazar, Camilla Sparv, Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-Greenbrae) and Richard Mulligan, who once visited the estate as a corpse. “This is where I attended my own wake in ‘S.O.B.’ (a film directed by Edwards),” he said.

What prompted Andrews and Edwards to open their home was a long-time commitment to the nonprofit agency, formerly known as Operation California, that has delivered more than $80 million worth of relief goods around the world. “They have very, very low overhead,” said Andrews. “They spend the money wisely and well. With Operation USA, I know the stuff gets through.”

Much of the evening’s profit, which will fuel future operations, came during an auction led by George Hamilton, with an assist from emcee Richard Walden, president of Operation USA. Dinner and the auction were held in a massive white tent on the tennis court.

The actor displayed uncommon enthusiasm for his job. At one point he offered to personally accompany anyone who would spend $25,000 for the trip to Jordan donated by Queen Noor. True to his word, Hamilton will be flying to the Middle East with Dolores Milhous of Dallas. “You have more money than this, I hope,” said Hamilton to Milhous. “There are other places we can go.”

The fog had cleared by the time Nancy Wilson performed with her trio, but, unfortunately, this will be the last time Operation USA will be seeing the Andrews-Edwards home as a fund-raising venue. After 20 years, it’s just been sold.

Edwards and Andrews will live in their other house in Brentwood.