Support Groups Have Date With Oscar to Raise Funds

Jean Harlow or Sheena of the Jungle?

Kathy Thompson of Corona del Mar is determined to wear one of those get-ups when she celebrates Oscar Night at Planet Hollywood on Monday.

“We’re having a ‘come as your favorite movie star’ party,” says Thompson, founder of the A-Team, a support group of Share Our Selves (a service organization for the homeless and impoverished). “Only one problem. I have a costume for Sheena, but she’s a television character. I can’t figure out how to fake that.”

Her husband, Jerry , may come as Tarzan, she says. “But he’s not feeling too good about the idea. We were supposed to do this on a cruise once, and he absolutely refused.

“I ended up going as Jane, searching for Tarzan. “

The $50-per-person benefit for Share Our Selves marks the official launch of the A-Team.

“In its 23 years, SOS never had a woman’s support group,” says Thompson, who recently founded the A-Team with Marla Bird of Laguna Beach. “Now, we have a nice group of energetic women who plan to organize fund-raisers--some big, some small--for SOS,” she says.

Proceeds from the event, already a sellout, are expected to be in the $1,500 range. “We were able to get some official Academy Awards ballots and of course there will be special prizes for our winners,” Thompson says.

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A few doors away at Antonello’s Ristorante on the same night, supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Orange County will celebrate the Academy Awards with “An Evening With Oscar.”

Tickets at $55-per-person are still available for the event, which will include dinner--a Northern Italian feast of pasta with chicken, veal and mushrooms--a silent auction and prizes for the winning voters.

Funds raised will be used for research on cystic fibrosis, the No. 1 genetic killer of children and young adults.

The suggested attire for the bash--sponsored by the foundation’s new support group, Le Premiere--is ‘Hollywood glamour,’ says foundation spokeswoman Liz Polo. “You know; pizazz!”

For Ina Niday, co-chairwoman of the event with Marianne Newman, that means “my backless royal blue dress with matching shoes and earrings.”

Move over, Catherine Deneuve.

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At Roxbury, the new Santa Ana nightclub, look for a gigantic blowup of King Kong to welcome guests at its Oscar party. Fay Wray (played by Jonnie Peckham) will be on hand and guests will enjoy a three-course dinner.

Menu items, dreamed up by David Wilhelm, will include: coconut shrimp with tangerine sauce; charred rare ahi with papaya and Bermuda onion relish; grilled shrimp on fettuccine with basil, tomatoes and garlic, and warm chocolate mousse cake with hazelnut anglaise.

Cost of the event is $50.

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While others play at attending the Oscars, Patti and Jim Edwards--he’s president of Edwards Cinemas (owners of 300 screens in Southern California)--will be doing the real thing on Monday night.

“We usually have party at home with close friends and have chili, hot dogs and popcorn,” says Patty Edwards of Newport Beach. “But this year, we’re going to the Oscars. Coca-Cola has given us some tickets, and we’re really looking forward to a good time.”

A fashion pacesetter in society circles, Patty Edwards will wear a three-piece cocktail suit by New York designer Joanne Mastroianni to the event.

“It’s a cut-out dress in black and white sequins,” she says. Afterward, the couple will attend the Governor’s Ball. “We’re thrilled to be going. It’s harder than ever to get tickets,” she says.