Gaining Ground on a Resource Center

The Assistance League of Southern California dug in the other day and tossed the first dirt at the groundbreaking for its Dorothy E. Leavey Family Resource Center in Hollywood.

In an era of economic distress, the league has raised 75% of its $8-million goal for the edifice. “We’re overjoyed that we have come so far,” said Beverly Thrall, capital campaign chairman and past president.

Said Chip Selby, ALSC president: “The success of the campaign has boosted our morale tremendously. Knowing that so many organizations and individuals support our efforts has increased our optimism and determination.”

Philanthropist Dorothy E. Leavey, the ALSC member and donor for whom the building is named, lifted the first shovel of soil with her daughter, Kathleen Leavey McCarthy. Other major benefactors have been the Weingart, Parsons and Ahmanson foundations; the Bing Fund, and Arco.

The ALSC provides 10 community services helping more than 74,000 people annually. The new center, scheduled for completion in late 1993, will house five of those programs (a family service agency; Operation School Bell, which provides new clothes for children; a multipurpose senior center; a social Over 50 Club, and a satellite office for the Western Region Asian Pacfic Agency). The facility will be next to the league’s headquarters at Fernwood Avenue and St. Andrews Place.

IMPRESSIVE: The Laguna Art Museum (that pretty museum on a bluff with a view of the Pacific and an impressive California Impressionist collection) has revved up for an entire year of 75th anniversary exhibitions and parties in 1993.

The goal: to celebrate “California’s richness of artistic contribution,” says director Charles Desmarais. At an anniversary gala May 6, Tiffany & Co. will honor Barbara Steele Williams with a lifetime achievement award.

DEBUTANT GLOW: Around ball tables with pink tapers, lush roses and pink tulips, 23 freshmen returned from colleges over Thanksgiving to be presented at the 44th annual Coronet Debutante Ball at the Beverly Hilton.

Fathers and daughters rehearsed Friday morning before the ball and lunched at Chez Helene in Beverly Hills at an event hosted by Kathryn and George Lewicki of Sherman Oaks and Joanne and James Willcox of Ross.

Then Coronet Patronesses entertained at the pre-ball cocktail party chaired by Peggy Snow, before the major ballroom fun planned by Carolyn Roper of Toluca Lake and Karen McGovern of Brentwood, president of the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter. Ball proceeds go to the National Charity League-USC Teacher Center and facilities for Recording for the Blind.

And those debs? Amy Ambatielos, Jessica Antola, Heather Apel, Allison Beckett, Carrie Bergman, Allison Bockemohle, Lindsay Brown, Kelly Cochran, Cassandra Costa, Sarah Dammann, Carolyn Everson, Nancy-Jan Jacobsen, Kerry Katzenbach, Karin Lewicki, Amber Mazzola, Stacy Melcher (Art Linkletter’s granddaughter), Suzanne Moller, Kristina Osterloh, Ashley Polito, Bronwyn Redknapp, Jill Wadsworth, Maia Willcox and Lindsey Williams.

JINGLE BELLS: Nippy weather fits a season that’s sparkling with cheer. Friends of Hollygrove and Bank of America host the “Santa on Ice” affordable ($10 for kids, $20 adults) family-oriented ice skating show benefiting homeless people Saturday at Pickwick Ice Arena, Burbank. . . .

Downtown Women’s Center entertains at its annual open house Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. . . .

And Brenda Banta Williams will stand beside the holly wreath at the home of Martha and Roy Tolles in San Marino Sunday evening, welcoming friends to the Smith College Club of Pasadena annual Christmas party for scholarships.

KUDOS: To Club 100 hosting an Evening of Music at Chasen’s featuring Hal David. Honors for the club were also due Wednesday evening when Club 100 members were heralded by Tiffany & Co. Vice President John S. Petterson for the introduction of new jewelry designs in the Tiffany Signature Series. . . .

To Richard M. Rosenberg, chairman of Bank of America, saluted as Industrialist of the Year by the California Museum of Science and Industry and the California Museum Foundation, and to Kary B. Mullis, director of research for Atomic Tags Inc., named Scientist of the Year. . . .

To Magic Johnson and his wife, Cookie; Spike Lee, and Branford Marsalis, chairing the LEAP (Linking Education and Progress) For Excellence black-tie gala at the Biltmore to benefit inner-city youths. . . .

To Gladys MacNair, honored by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. . . .

To Gary Lund, taking over as guest chef at the Roxxi restaurant in Pasadena, serving up edible bow ties and chocolate “pocket silks” to benefit his favorite charity, Hillsides Home for Children. (Ray Rodeno and Merlin Olsen will appear next). . . .

To Thomas D. Phelps, founding partner of Manatt, Phelps, Philips, & Kantor law firm, honored by City of Hope, at the Beverly Hilton . . . .

To Norman Ackerberg, honored by the Young Musicians Foundation at the Beverly Hilton gala starring Pia Zadora. . . .

To Richard M. Powell, named “humanitarian of the year” by the City of Hope home furnishings industry support group, at the Century Plaza. . . .

To cosmetics entrepreneur Victoria Jackson, to be feted today at the Regent Beverly Wilshire at a gala designed to reach out to inner-city students with classroom lessons on leadership skills.