Public Counsel Awards Dinner Aids Free Legal Assistance

Public Counsel’s 18th annual William O. Douglas Award Dinner, March 23 at the Beverly Hilton, netted $525,000. Honoree was California State Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk. Public Counsel provides free legal assistance to individuals in need. More than 1,000 guests attended the fund-raiser co-chaired by Robin Meadow of the firm Loeb & Loeb and Thomas Unterman of Times Mirror Co.

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The Los Angeles Shanti Foundation raised $280,000 March 15 in its tribute to composer Howard Ashman at the Scottish Rite Theater. Performers included Bette Midler, Melissa Manchester, Patrick Swayze and the Mehmet Sander Dance Company. L.A. Shanti provides free emotional support and education to people affected by HIV, AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. The benefit was co-chaired by Ted Guefen and Hilary Shor.

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Child Study Center of St. John’s Hospital received a $100,000 check from Lexus Corp. at its March 23 kick-off reception for the April 10 Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon. The event at Hotel Bel Air was co-hosted by Robert Wagner and Jill St. John.

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Stepping Stone, a youth crisis center, received $30,000 raised at a Feb. 2 luncheon and fashion show at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The benefit was hosted by the Stepping Stone Resource Board to raise funds to provide shelter and counseling for runaway teens while attempting to reunite them with their parents or find permanent housing.

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Women’s Care Cottage raised approximately $1,000 at its first “Literary Luncheon” benefit March 4 at Magic Castle in Hollywood. Special guests were novelist Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey and actress Barbara Rush. Women’s Care Cottage provides immediate basic necessities and re-entry assistance to women at its centers in the San Fernando Valley.

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Assistance League of Long Beach, a chapter of the National Assistance League, raised $51,000 at its March 5 “Masquerade: A Night of Illusion” gala at the Long Beach Hilton. Proceeds will support the league’s philanthropic projects..

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St. Anne’s Maternity Home received a $300,000 grant from the Fritz B. Burns Foundation. Funds will be applied to the new facility housing pregnant adolescents, teen mothers and their infants. The facility is named in honor of the late Fritz B. Burns and his wife, Gladys.

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California Assn. of Health Facilities raised $30,000 March 1 at a dinner and auction to benefit the Los Angeles Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Assn. Guests included actors Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares.

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Childrens Hospital Los Angeles’ Artists-in-Residence Program received a $25,000 grant from the Plum Foundation to provide the services of artists to work with children in helping to build self-esteem and development of new skills through artistic expression.