Clinic Raises $400,000 to Care for Uninsured

Venice Family Clinic announced contributions of $400,000 by members of the clinic’s Silver Circle Group of major supporters. The donors annually contribute $1,250 or more, providing major support for free health care services for the uninsured working poor and homeless. The Feb. 5 gala honored Gwen and Arthur Hiller for their longtime support. Paul Mazursky, Dudley Moore, Robert Wise, Janet and Jerry Zucker, Patti and Michael Marcus and Billie and Frederick R. Weisman were among the 400 guests entertained by Rita Moreno.

*

The National Conference of Christians & Jews’ March 24 Food and Beverage Industry Humanitarian Awards Dinner honored Maurice Chalat, president, B/H Brokers Inc.; Bob Hermanns, executive vice president, Lucky Stores, and Robert E. Williams, president Hunt-Wesson Grocery Produce Sales Co. The $200,000 raised will support programs to reduce racial tensions. The benefit, held at the Los Angeles Intercontinental Hotel, was chaired by Allen Zietz.

*

The Sheenway School for Kids’ Celebrity Benefit Dinner March 18 at the Olympic Collection netted $20,000. Celebrities included Sandra Bernhard, Gabrielle Carteris and Sharon Lawrence. The school, located in South Central, provides alternative education for children ages 2-18, with an emphasis on multiculturalism.

*

Southern California Conservatory of Music in the San Fernando Valley has received a $50,000 grant from the Fritz B. Burns Foundation. The money will be used to help fund the Young Musical Theatre for children ages 8-14, scholarship allotments to sight-impaired students to enter the Braille Music Program at the conservatory and to update equipment.

*

El Rescate, the internationally recognized human rights and immigrant advocacy organization, held its seventh annual Academy Awards Benefit on March 21 at the Mondrian Hotel. The benefit netted approximately $25,000 to be used for vocational training, citizenship drive, English As A Second Language classes and other literacy programs. Cheech Marin hosted the event, which paid tribute to the late Patrick Lippert and his many contributions to the organization.

*

AIDS Healthcare Foundation held its fifth annual Academy Awards gala March 21 at the Director’s Guild, netting $102,000. Included in the auction were a pair of Glenn Close’s false eyelashes worn in the musical “Sunset Boulevard,” which sold for an “eye-popping” $1,500.