Daring to Raise $1 Million for Kids
It’s predicted $1 million will be raised at the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) gala that Beverly Hills entrepreneur Bruce Meyers heads Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton. DARE is the program established by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1983 to thwart substance abuse and gang involvement.
Some 1,000 people are expected to honor “Future of America” winner Greg Penske, president of Longo Toyota-Lexus in El Monte. Proceeds will help further establish the program nationwide.
PRETTY PLEASE: “Please, may we consider your ticket a tax-deductible contribution in the event of a rainy day?” The request was on the flowery invitations designed by Lisa Williamson for the Pasadena Garden Club’s “House and Garden Tour and Spring Boutique and Picnic Lunch.”
No problem: The day was California perfect.
What a treat--seeing the gardens and parlor decor of Patty Burschinger, Wendy Siciliano, Cici Williamson, Molly O’Melveny and Marilyn Brumder in spring finery.
Gardeners-in-the-know there for a look-see: Vicki Livingstone, Carolyn Hubbs, Kathy Gillespie, Mary Crowe, Joyce Allen and daughter Kate Westlake, Bett McLaughlin, Judith McLaughlin, Mary Kay Hight and Gege Chambers.
HORSE LOVERS: Thoroughbreds and fans will be at the gate for the opening of the Track of the Lakes and Flowers Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
Chairman/Chief Operating Officer R. D. Hubbard and President/General Manager Donald M. Robbins are boasting a $6million-stakes calendar through July 26, a $750,000 Gold Cup on July 3 and Friday-night racing May 7-July 23.
On opening day, Spud Williamson (HP director) and his wife, Alyce, are assembling friends from the Art Center College of Design in the Turf Club, which was founded in 1938 by legendary movie mogul Jack Warner.
LIMELIGHT: At Santa Anita, President Bill Clinton’s mother, Virginia Kelley, barely had time for lunch with Los Angeles Turf Club President Clifford C. Goodrich and his wife, Karen, in the Directors Room, so busy was she darting back and forth (twice) with trainer Jack Van Berg to the winner’s circle to garland his horses Alyshena and Unidas.
Thomas Meeker, president of Churchill Downs (where the Kentucky Derby is run) and his wife, Carole, were at the track the day of the Santa Anita Derby, sitting with Stephen and Sally Keller.
TOP ACCOLADES: There are many. Robert A. Daly chairs the Center for Excellence in Education dinner Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton, honoring Academy Award winner Richard Edlund . . . Heritage of the Music Center honors Robert Fryer, former artistic director of the Ahmanson Theatre, and William Severns, former chief administrator of the Music Center Operating Co., April 29 at the Music Center . . . Linda LoRe, president of Giorgio Beverly Hills, receives the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the West Coast Beauty Assn. of the City of Hope on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton. . . .
St. Vincent Medical Center Auxiliary salutes the memory of Michael Landon at a gala April 23 at the Beverly Wilshire . . . The memory of Dorothy Kirsten French is the raison d’etre for the Founding Associates of The French Foundation for Alzheimer Research’s April 25 fete at the Beverly Hilton . . . USC’s Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics honored Dr. Don Harper Mills at a black-tie dinner for his pioneering work in law, medicine and ethics.
KUDOS: To Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary for a $51,000 gift to the hospital’s child-care center and junior volunteer organization.
PAST PERFECT: Music Center Spotlight Awards chairmen Peggy Parker Grauman, her husband Walter Grauman, Anne Johnson and Fredric Roberts energized the show onstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion last week.
Sponsored by Pacific Telesis Foundation, the affair was the culmination of competition by 600 students for $45,000 in scholarships. At the patrons reception: Tom (president of the Fraternity of Friends) and Deborah Tellefsen, A. J. Carothers, Joan Burns, master of ceremonies Gregory Harrison and celebrity judges Tony Martin, Bella Lewitzky and Paula Kelly. . . .
The net will be close to $120,000 from the Lullaby Guild’s 35th annual Ebony Fashion Fair held at the Hollywood Palladium on Easter. Crowds turned out for two fashion shows.
Guild President Antoinette Carter and publicity coordinator Alescia Buford note that the guild has raised more than $500,000 for the Children’s Home Society.
The support group was launched in 1950 after Children’s Home Society, with 50 black children in foster homes and few adoptive parents in the black community, accepted the request of the Los Angeles Urban League’s John Walker to help secure homes.
ESCALATION: Co-chairs Priscilla Schultz and Jean Juell have a full field for their Nordstrom Seahorse Classic Golf Tournament on Monday at the Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club. They sold out in nine days and expect to rake in a bundle of greenery for Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. President Jody Murdock is primed for the barbecue luncheon and evening reception. . . .
Sandpipers intend to raise $100,000 for South Bay charities through the 19th annual Design House at 603 Paseo del Mar in Palos Verdes Estates from April 27-May 16. . . .
Sotheby’s West Coast managing director Andrea Van de Kamp introduced California State Treasurer Kathleen Brown at the West Coast Committee of the American Friends of the Israel Museum luncheon at the Regency Club. . . .
Mayfield Senior School’s “Evening on Embassy Row” was glitzy. Chairmen were Michele Engemann and Angie Reid.
