RSVP : Fun, Games, a Serious Cause

It’s more than one colossal Kodak moment, although “A Time for Heroes,” the annual picnic and carnival fund-raiser for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, is most definitely that, too. There were celebrities (categories: sports, movies, television, modeling) everywhere you turned at the former Robert Taylor ranch, now the home of Ken Roberts, in Brentwood on Sunday. Meryl Streep, Andy Garcia and Jimmy Connors would be sauntering across one patch of lawn; Tom Hanks, Elle MacPherson, Sandy Koufax and Kim Basinger across another.

The event, now in its fifth year and underwritten by People magazine and the Milken Family Medical Foundation, was the unusual sort of gathering where paparazzi were barred at the gate, but a phalanx of Polaroid-snapping volunteers encouraged people to pose with their favorite, usually camera-averse, stars.

“It’s inspiring,” Goldie Hawn said. “Love is very invigorating. If people are happy it gives you energy. This day is about a very positive, loving endeavor.”

Over at the dart game booth, Dustin Hoffman was smiling for picture No. 349, or something like that. Next in line was retired Dodger Ron Cey, taking a break from his booth, to grab a family shot with the renowned actor. “Why? He does great work,” Cey said.

Although the idea is to have the stars staff old-fashioned carnival booths, the games often get lost in the action. When Jack Nicholson was a no-show for his noon appearance at the dunking booth, no one seemed terribly perturbed.

“Jack usually comes whenever he comes,” allowed an event organizer. Robin Williams, who was cast for the 1 p.m. slot, slipped into his Nicholson voice and had the people in line in stitches.

Nicholson finally ambled in about 2, putting on his own show. “Wait till he gets reloaded here now. . . . Let ‘er rip,” he instructed a ball-thrower hoping to see Mike Myers get dunked. “Man, he’s damp,” said Nicholson, when the inevitable happened.

Although no one would dispute the display of star power, the event’s true centerpiece is Elizabeth Glaser, co-founder of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation with Susan Zeegen and Susan DeLaurentis.

“She is my hero,” said Henry Winkler. “I personally love her from my hair to my toes.” Glaser, who has been HIV-positive for 13 years, injected the day’s one troubling note when she told the gathering: “For those of you who aren’t in my daily life, I’ve been having a much harder time the last four months.” But she added that young HIV-positive survivors she knew gave her hope and strength. “When I’m struggling, I’ll remember that miracles happen,” she said.