Behind the Scenes : Athletes and Entertainers Take a Stand and Pose for Children’s Charity

Sports heroes struck poses alongside professional models Tuesday at a fashion gala at Roxbury South in Santa Ana. The event benefited Athletes & Entertainers for Kids, an organization dedicated to helping critically ill, disadvantaged and disenfranchised children.

Co-chairmen of the event, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and supermodel Kathy Ireland, have served as spokesmen for AEFK for five years. They were joined by a dapper master of ceremonies, Branford Marsalis, musical director of “The Tonight Show.”

“We are here tonight to give disadvantaged children a chance,” Ireland told the crowd, most of whom attended in their best black-tie attire.

The celebrity fashion show was 45 minutes late, but it was worth the wait to see how beefy players from the Rams fit into designer duds from Richard Tyler, Faconnable, Donna Karan and Evergreen, all provided by Nordstrom. The theme among the lines was classic sophistication and tailoring.

The models wore it well. Ram defensive back Steve Israel unbuttoned his E.N.U.F. Internationale baseball-style shirt and showed off pecs Marky Mark would envy.

Decked in Mossimo, Ram running back Jerome Bettis and wide receiver Todd Kinchen fit the Irvine designer’s image to a T in distressed flannels, jeans and Italian-inspired specs. Kinchen looked as if he’d been plucked from Moss’ latest ad campaign.

Volleyball pro Brian Lewis got into the blaring beat in boxy knits from CK by Calvin Klein. A platform away stood gold medalist gymnast Nadia Comaneci, also in CK. Their look was reminiscent of the ‘30s, with trousers, riding pants, granny boots and driver’s caps.

Other celebrity models included former Raider Mike Haynes and soul singer Freda Payne.

Among the star sightings at the event, hosted by Harper’s Bazaar and Inserts: former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, former Raider Bob Golic, volleyball player Steve Timmons, actress Tia Carrera and Stray Cat Lee Rocker.

Established in 1986, the Torrance-based AEFK enlists the entertainment and sports industries’ support to aid children through a range of programs. Last year the organization served more than 75,000 young people in Southern California.