Mardi Gras Nets $180,000

Senior Health and Peer Counseling’s Magical Mardi Gras Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire on April 4 netted $180,000 for older adults at the center in Santa Monica.

The National Conference of Christians & Jews raised $200,000 March 26 at its annual Food and Beverage Industries Humanitarian Awards dinner at the Biltmore. The funds will provide seminars and workshops that strive to reduce racial tension in the community and to promote a more positive atmosphere in police-community relations. Peter M. Horn III was dinner chair.

Visiting Nurse Assn’s “I Count Too” gala honored VNA founders at an Academy Awards night party at Wilshire Country Club. The $15,000 netted at the March 30 benefit will help provide counseling and educational support for adolescents who are living with terminally ill relatives.

Los Angeles Youth Network’s charity softball game, hosted by Chad Lowe at Pepperdine University, Malibu, on April 12 netted $7,000. Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, Lori Loughlin, Mark Harmon, Esai Morales and other celebrities participated in the benefit to raise funds to provide outreach and medical and mental health services for runaway youth.

Arthritis Foundation raised more than $1.25 million at its April 12 telethon broadcast on KCOP-TV. Proceeds will provide public education and services and support research into rheumatic diseases.

Variety-The Children’s Charity presented its Golden Heart Award to KCBS-TV anchorwoman Bree Walker on March 24 at the Marriott, Century City. The benefit luncheon and shopping bazaar netted $10,000 to provide assistance for handicapped, underprivileged and abused children throughout the Southland. Variety has raised more than $20 million for children since its founding in 1941.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s third annual Academy Awards party at the Director’s Guild on March 30 raised more than $80,000. Proceeds will benefit AIDS hospices in Los Angeles County. The foundation operates the Chris Brownlie Hospice in Los Angeles and Hollywood Center Hospice at Valley Presbyterian Hospital and is constructing the Carl Bean AIDS Care Center in South-Central Los Angeles.

Concern II, the all-volunteer nonprofit organization funding children’s cancer research, held its “Passport to Paradise” benefit April 4, with more than 500 guests in attendance at the Charlie Chaplin sound stage. Net proceeds of $90,000 will be used for ongoing research projects.

Project New Start, a nonprofit organization serving underprivileged women released from Los Angeles County jails, announced a Feb. 12 grant of $34,000 from the California Community Foundation. The project provides rehabilitation services in all areas, in addition to reunifying women with their children.

Starlight Foundation’s April 10 Celebrity deejay party at Boogie’s Diner, Westside Pavilion, raised $8,000 to help provide emotional healing and physical well-being to seriously ill children and their families. The foundation grants children’s wishes and provides entertainment programs to local hospitals.