‘Phantom’ Cast, Crew Share With the Needy

“The Phantom of the Opera” has done more than entertain. Over the past year, the cast and crew of the show have helped others through numerous fund-raising activities. They’ve held memorabilia auctions, staged backstage raffles and lotteries, put on bake sales and a charity softball game and sold autographed posters. Among the beneficiaries: Equity Fights AIDS, $73,000; a Thanksgiving donation of more than $2,000 was sent to the Los Angeles Mission to help feed the homeless; AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), $1,000; City of Hope, $300; Project Angel Food, which delivers meals to the homebound, $100, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, more than $900.

* The Marianne Frostig Center-Chris Korman 16th annual Celebrity Golf and Tennis Classic was held at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage Nov. 22-24. The event topped its $100,000 goal. The Frostig Center in Pasadena serves the needs of learning-disabled children through research, professional training and a day school. Proceeds of the tournament will be used for scholarships.

* National Kidney Foundation benefited from the black-tie benefit Dec. 8 hosted by Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. More than 350 guests attended the event, which netted $160,000. Verna Harrah was event chair. Sidney Poitier was master of ceremonies.

* Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California netted more than $30,000 at its celebrity golf tournament Nov. 18 at Los Coyotes Country Club. Isabel Sanford was chair. Major sponsors included Quantum Health Resources, Alpha Therapeutics, Armour Pharmaceuticals and Baxter Healthcare.

* Friends of the Los Angeles Free Clinic held its 15th annual dinner and variety show Dec. 6 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The $600,000 raised will help provide continuing services for the 40,000 people who seek medical, legal and dental assistance at the clinic each year. Programs include anonymous HIV testing and counseling, AIDS prevention and education, youth employment and services for senior citizens, runaways and others.

* Big Sisters of Los Angeles has announced receipt of two grants for its PALS project. The James Irvine Foundation donated $60,000 to be distributed over two years; Mervyn’s gave $30,000. The PALS program matches girls ages 12 to 18 who are pregnant or have babies with adult women who serve as role models.

* Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum’s Nov. 18 gala and auction, “Eagles Over Western Skies,” at the Beverly Hilton raised more than $454,000 for art acquisition. James W. McElvany chaired the event.