$488,000 Presented to Cedars-Sinai

Thalians President Debbie Reynolds and Board Chairman Ruta Lee presented a check for $488,000 to Joseph N. Mitchell, chairman of the board of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in February. The check marks another payment toward the group’s latest $2-million pledge. To date, Thalians has raised more than $21 million for the hospital.

Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles will receive $200,000 netted from the Feb. 2 “Tip-A-King ‘92” benefit. The event was hosted by the Los Angeles Kings at Hollywood Park with Wayne Gretzky, Kelly Hrudey, Luc Robitaille, Dave Taylor and other sports personalities. National Medical Enterprises Inc. underwrote the event with a $25,000 grant. The money will go toward the bureau’s Family Connection Program, in which team workers help families at high risk for child abuse.

Armory Center for the Arts raised more than $8,000 Feb. 9 at its “Pizza Magic” benefit. The event, attended by more than 225 guests, was underwritten by California Pizza Kitchen and held at its new Pasadena restaurant. The Armory Center, a nonprofit art education facility and gallery, offers programs for children, adults and schools. David Spiro is director of development.

Shanti Foundation, an AIDS counseling and education organization, held its Valentine’s Ball Feb. 15 at the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel. The gala netted $85,000; the money will be used for counseling for those affected by HIV or AIDS.

Los Angeles Regional Foodbank members and more than 200 friends and supporters attended the Feb. 22 “Make Hunger Disappear” benefit at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. The family-day event raised about $44,000.

Inner City Arts raised $85,000 at its first fund-raiser at Citrus Restaurant. The organization helps Skid Row children use creativity in dealing with their daily lives. Citrus Restaurant and the Irwin J. Jaeger Foundation co-sponsored the event.

United Jewish Fund/Operation Exodus raised $6.8 million during the Feb. 2 Super Sunday Phone-a-Thon. Proceeds will help feed the hungry, provide vocational training for the disabled, resettle immigrants and support other programs in the Los Angeles area, in Israel and throughout the world.

The UCLA Regents received a $500,000 one-year grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The funds will benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Research and Treatment Program at UCLA Medical Center.