Play Benefits Raise $20,000 for Pediatric AIDS

The Pediatric AIDS Foundation has received $20,000 from the first four benefit performances of “The Laughter Epidemic,” a musical play for children produced by Mary Jo Slater. The Jan. 11 performance, held at Creative Artists Agency Inc. in Beverly Hills, was hosted by the foundation and play director Christian Slater.

Alzheimer’s Assn. received more than $25,000 raised at its first MTM Open Golf Tournament Dec. 9 at Bel-Air’s MountainGate Country Club. The celebrity event was sponsored by MTM Television and Home Savings of America. MTM-TV President Peter Grad and his wife, Laurie, were co-chairmen.

Friends of the Shelter for the Homeless netted $60,000 at an Oct. 19 dinner-dance and auction at the Los Angeles Hilton. Proceeds will fund transitional shelters for the homeless. Shelter for the Homeless was founded 2 1/2 years ago by Jim Miller.

Step Up on 2nd received a $6,000 grant from the Los Angeles Emergency Food and Shelter Program to purchase food for distribution to participants. Step Up is a Santa Monica-based program that provides educational, vocational and socialization services for mentally ill adults.

American Lung Assn. received more than $19,000 to be used for asthma research. Funds were raised Oct. 2 by the family and friends of the late Los Angeles businessman John Stampler in an evening of remembrance at the MountainGate Country Club.

Operation Exodus, a Los Angeles campaign to resettle Soviet Jews in Israel, raised $600,000 Nov. 17 at Sinai Temple in Westwood. The community rally was sponsored by the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles in honor of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) announced receipt of a $50,000 grant Dec. 18 from USA for Africa through Shelter Partnership to support its day center, emergency shelter and transitional residence program. PATH also received $16,000 from Rick Dees, Jay Wolpert Productions and Capital Cities/ABC Late Night Programming.

Santa Monica Hospital Foundation’s Oct. 26 “Gala 1991” fund-raiser netted $220,000 for the hospital’s oncology program for cancer patients and their families. Jack Jones entertained; Wink Martindale served as emcee.