Colleagues Polish Up Plans for a Salute to Betty Ford and Adolfo

Hearts and flowers are moving up the social scale as Valentine’s Day nears. The Colleagues and Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills will salute former First Lady Betty Ford at a Feb. 14 luncheon and fashion presentation celebrating Adolfo’s spring line. There’s probably not a Colleague who doesn’t own an Adolfo, so it’s a good match.

Recently, the Colleagues lunched at Billie Cosgrove’s Holmby Hills estate to put polishing touches on the affair, to be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Colleagues chairman Marjorie Miller was center front, sitting next to slim skier Marion Jorgensen.

The fun part was looking at the yellowed program from the Colleagues’ first benefit, “A Ribbon Party,” in 1951. Lupe Hinckle dug the relic from a closet to show that many Hollywood stars had modeled--Irene Dunne, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner, to drop a few names. That first party grossed a whopping $10,000.

MORE LOVE: Lorna Reed, president of the Norris Auxiliary for the USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital, has booked Leo F. Buscaglia for “Miracoli di’Amore,” the auxiliary fund-raiser Feb. 14 at the Biltmore. Mary Lamb is chairman. Buscaglia is the author of the ‘80s bestseller “Loving Each Other”. . . .

“Champagne and Shakespeare Romance” will follow the Shakespeare Festival/LA All-Star Benefit Feb. 15 in Pasadena Playhouse’s Balcony Theater. Hal Holbrook, Ed Asner, Carol Kane and Michael Gross are among those donating talents. Bristol Farms sponsors the post-performance reception. . . .

The mother-daughter charity group, the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter, stages a “Heart to Heart” fashion brunch Feb. 8 at the Beverly Hilton. Chair Teresa Harding has the help of Joann Koll, Diana Doyle, Edith Lewis, Carole Williams and Antoinette Adams. A number of families will be represented by three generations. Among them: Donna Witte, member of the advisory board; her daughter, Ann Capri, a Coronet debutante and a member of the Junior Charity League, and Capri’s daughter, Katie.

CUISINE: Food is a major fund-raising vehicle. Now that everyone’s lost a few pounds after the holidays, at least two groups are dining royally again for charity.

The Newport Harbor Art Museum--joined by its director, Michael Botwinick, and its new chief curator, Bruce Guenther--plans a series of very special dinners.

Anton Segerstrom and Mark Moore co-host the first private dinner, “Artist’s Night Out,” Feb. 8. They’ve invited artists Peter Alexander, Chuck Arnoldi, Billy Al Bengston and Ken Price as guests. Bill Gustaf Magnuson and Ulf Anders Strandberg will stage the masterpiece meal.

Susie and Daniel Hernandez host a Valentine’s Day affair at their Lake Mission Viejo home with chef/owner Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant on Melrose cooking. On Feb. 29, former Hancock Park residents Jo and Bob McLain open their Indian Wells retreat for a desert sunset repast and a close-up of their contemporary art. Five other feasts, continuing into April, are scheduled by Judy and Joel Slutzky, Johann and Richard Jonas, Michael Kang, Sandy and Harold Price, and Junie and Kenneth Chong.

In Rancho Santa Fe at the Rancho Valencia Resort, chef Bradley Ogden will prepare a four-course dinner Feb. 7 to benefit the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art. He is the owner/chef of the Lark Creek Inn in the San Francisco area. Tickets are $100.

NINETEEN: The Presentee Committee of the Social Service Auxiliary will introduce 19 young women at its Presentation Ball May 29 at the Beverly Hilton. Sandra Walker is ball chairman. Assisting are Mary Lou Workman, Marjorie Pings and Annelle Guss.

Donna Conn hosted a holiday tea in her home to welcome debutantes, including her daughter Eileen. More are Amy Condon, Lisa Atckison, Cathy Norcross, Nicole Wilson, Jennifer Zapanta, Molly Lynch, Erin Brady, Eileen Peaper, Brekke Fletcher, Melanie Fountain, Kellie O’Leary, Sarah Hayes, Jennifer Ursitti, Amanda Hennigan, Amy Masto, Kimberly Brewer, Marina Ramos and Malia Mueller. Denise O’Riley is auxiliary president.

HISTORIC: One of the historic Wallace Neff houses on Lombardy Road in San Marino will be transformed for the 1992 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee members and their guests previewed the house last weekend.

The chandelier in the living room is coming down for the re-do but will be rehung later. Judy Frank is benefit chair. Christina Varner is Junior Philharmonic Committee president. Carole Parker and Kathleen Martin will co-chair the preview party April 18 at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington.

AT THE DESERT: Palm Springs and other desert cities are bustling with winter activity. At Smoke Tree Ranch, the historic ranch house that burned Dec. 19 is being rebuilt after a near-total loss. Colonists (those who have homes near the ranch) and guests were asked by Ranch Associates President Tom Moore to search their photo albums. Sentimentalists hope to see a new ranch house rise like a phoenix and look much like the old one. . . .

For the fourth year, Lionel and Libby Phillips chair the “Diamonds of the Desert” annual ball ($1,000 per couple) for the City of Hope. It’s Sunday at the Marquis Hotel in Palm Springs.