Fund-Raiser Nets $100,000 for Abused Children

Olive Crest Treatment Centers for Abused Children received more than $100,000 raised by the black-and-white ball on March 6 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach. The fund-raiser, attended by 500 guests, was sponsored by Olive Crest Abused Children’s Foundation and chaired by Betty Belden-Palmer and Roberta Rinehart. Olive Crest provides group homes and foster homes for abused, abandoned and troubled children.

Professional Dancers Society’s March 15 annual awards luncheon honoring Cyd Charisse and Bob Hope raised $70,000. Proceeds from the gala at the Century Plaza will go toward establishment of a retirement home for professional dancers and provide assistance for dancers in immediate need. Bob Street, Joni Horowitz and Vera Gordon were co-chairs.

AIDS Project Los Angeles will receive $1,200 raised at the premiere benefit performance of Peter DeAnello’s “Two Way Street” at the Court Theater. Lava Entertainment and executive producer Brian Murphy hosted the March 28 event.

National Kidney Foundation of Southern California held its gala March 22 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The dinner, which raised more than $160,000, paid tribute to Dr. Shaul D. Massry.

American Red Cross received a $531,650 check presented Feb. 27 by recording artist Cissy Houston and Phil Wild of Arista Records. The gift is a combined contribution from the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children Inc., Arista and BMG Distribution. The money will support the Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund, which is still providing aid to U.S. military personnel and their families and war victims in the region.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Assn. Inc. will receive more than $21,000 raised at a March 12 silent auction and dinner gala sponsored by the California Assn. of Health Facilities Region IV. Shelley Fabares was the honoree at the event at the Wilshire Koreana Hotel.

Five Acres, the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles, will receive more than $30,000 raised at the “Evening of Miracles” benefit sponsored by Five Acres Children’s Guild. “Major Dad” star Gerald McRaney was honored at the event at Universal Studios. Proceeds will be added to the $3.75-million funding campaign for the new school and developmental learning center. Nearly $3 million has been raised to date.

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation’s Founder’s Dinner March 14 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire raised $85,000 to continue medical research, a drug bank and other patient services. Richard E. Lewis was honoree.

American Heart Assn. received $1,000 raised by 600 students at Nevada Avenue Elementary School who jumped rope for three hours on March 5 to promote cardiovascular fitness. The event was sponsored by the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

USC’s School of International Relations announces receipt of a $2.5-million gift from the McCone Foundation to create the John A. McCone Chair in International Relations. The fund provides fellowships for graduate students and research assistants and a $100,000 endowment for a fund for the purchase of international relations materials.