Tears Flow at Private Party Honoring Dionne Warwick

As glittering and glamorous as ballroom galas can be, nothing beats the at-home bash for social intimacy.

There, the most personal feelings are exchanged (and heard ). There, guests and celebs can relax. There, the Baccarat and sterling come into play.

And so it went for pop diva Dionne Warwick on Friday night when she was honored for her charity work on behalf of AIDS awareness at the San Clemente estate of Phil Ramsden and Alvin Morrison.

Dressed in a silk cocoa palazzo-pants ensemble, Warwick sipped Chardonnay from a gleaming French crystal goblet, puffed at a reed-thin cigarette and cried.

Halfway through the party at Seapointe Estates, art gallery owner William Merrill presented Warwick with a painting titled “Age of Miracles” (after a song from her new album) by Laguna Beach artist Paul Ecke.

“Thank you for your loving heart and spirit,” said Ecke, as he helped unveil the work--an abstract created with 24-karat gold paint.

Brushing away her tears, Warwick stood before about 30 guests and told them it was nice to be surrounded by friends “who have the same motives I do.”

“People who don’t mind giving, who can share love,” she added. “Thank you so much for loving me as much as you do.”

Earlier, during the cocktail reception, Ecke said he wanted to honor Warwick with a painting because of the work she has done for AIDS Walk Orange County.

“She has been a sponsor for AIDS Walk for seven years,” he said. (Just last weekend Warwick attended a bash at Diva restaurant in Costa Mesa on behalf of AIDS Walk.)

In the privacy of the $1-million property’s study, Warwick talked about the demise of her Warwick Foundation, an organization she founded to raise funds for AIDS awareness and research:

“Unfortunately, the Warwick Foundation was not treated as a foundation that should have funding.”

“But, out of every down comes an up,” she said. “And the up is that I’ve been freed up to zone in on those AIDS agencies around the world that really need help.

“Now we go to cities, raise money and leave the money there,” she said.

On Valentine’s Day, for example, Warwick will perform in the Caribbean. “I’ll be in St. Thomas doing a concert and an AIDS awareness workshop--the things I’d be doing if the Warwick Foundation were doing it,” she said.

Warwick will also visit Japan in the coming months. “Japan has finally taken its head out of the sand, realized it has a problem,” she said. “That is such a giant step--probably the greatest step I have had the pleasure of enjoying.

“It’s not just the money that’s important,” she said. “It’s raising the level of consciousness. The governments of the countries invite me there to raise funds and help educate.”

She has watched show biz pals die from the disease. And babies. “It’s bad enough to die when you are young, but to die when your life has just begun . . .” she said, her voice trailing off.

During the festivities, guests helped themselves to a buffet of salmon, French pate, Brie with apricots, veggies, cheesecake, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and fresh berries. Passed appetizers included sesame chicken and beef teriyaki, spinach in filo dough and beef filet on toast points with shallot-mustard butter.

What tunes flowed from the CD player? Selections from Warwick’s new album. “It’s very much a woman’s album,” said Warwick, her huge, heart-shaped diamonds glittering on her ears. “It’s about peace, hope and love.”

One of her sons wrote the song she sings with Whitney Houston on the album, she said. “It’s called ‘Love Will Find a Way,’ ”

Love, and a little help from your friends.

International Protocol Ball: For the first time in its nine-year history, the International Protocol Ball has attracted major underwriting money.

Staged by the International Visitors and Protocol Foundation of Orange County at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on Saturday, ball proceeds were estimated at about $60,000 (with $45,000 of that amount in underwriting money alone). Proceeds from past balls have hovered around the $20,000 mark.

How does a ball chairwoman attract big bucks in a recession? “I contacted some corporations who were unaware of our organization,” said Nancy Weinstein, an international interior designer. “I explained to them that since we promote international business and goodwill, the climate was good for their company to become involved.”

Gayle Anderson, Orange County’s new protocol chief, said she hopes to expand the awareness of international visitors to include all of Orange County’s cities.

“Since our office of protocol is so young, we have concentrated mostly on introducing international visitors to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach,” she said. “But Orange County has 31 cities. I want them to be familiar with them all.”

About 400 guests dined on filet of beef and a dessert titled “Peace on Earth” (French vanilla ice cream encased in Swiss chocolate with a dove of peace). Tables were decorated with white trees hung with tiny world globes and doves of peace.

Donna and John Crean received the Protocol Foundation’s Citizen Diplomat Award for their financial support of past protocol balls.

Members of the ball committee included: Angela Tippel, Jean Galloway, Marcia Giesler, Joe and Ethel Hunt, Mary Ann Miller, Jo Ellen Qualls (a vice president of Tiffany & Co.--creator of the ball invitations and programs), Eva Schneider, Pat Neisser, Margie Gephart, Georgene Smith and Elinor Weeks.

Also among guests were Jerrell Richards, Protocol Foundation president, and protocol office founder Harriett Wieder, chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.