A Princely Summons
Sister Jennie Lechtenberg of Puente Learning Center and Prince Charles struck up a special friendship when he last visited Los Angeles.
So he invited her to participate in the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum Advisory Council, and, at his request, she recently went to London and Rio de Janeiro to speak about Puente and its unique public/private partnerships as avenues of empowering and educating economically disadvantaged children, adolescents and adults. Lechtenberg hopes Puente’s success in training educators in creating corporate partnerships, establishing computer-assisted instruction and designing fund-raising events can be projected to foreign countries.
Right now, though, she’s completing the move into Puente’s new building.
Pamela M. Mullin, over lunch at Patina, lauded Lechtenberg and noted that John Amerman, chairman of Mattel Inc., has agreed to be honored by Puente at a black-tie event this fall. Mattel has given Puente tremendous leadership and financial support. In turn, the children’s wing of the new building is named after the toy company.
Floral Wonders: The phones are ringing incessantly this summer over Floriade IV. Although the affair featuring prominent floral, landscape and interior designers is months away--April 25-27, 1996--Lyn Miller of Pacific Palisades, Floriade chairwoman, and Lynn Brengel of San Marino, chairwoman of the “Premier Party” on opening night, have combined their genius. Already they have a nationally known list of speakers and authors booked. They plan for 450 guests the first night.
Speakers and authors chairwoman Kathy Rose (between lazy days at Balboa Island) confirms that Cassandra Dranz (“Mrs. Greenthumbs” on radio and TV) and Tom Pritchard, co-owner of PureMadderlake, a flower and home-furnishings shop in New York, will join Kenneth Turner, popular London floral designer, on programs.
Busily lining up patrons are Pam Clyne, Polly Goodan, Bette McLaughlin, Frani Ridder and Carol Richards. Others on the committee: Ann Bookout, Marsha Mohler, Jennifer Fain, Ann Boyt, Ernie Richardson, Linda Bechner, Monica Mortensen, Jacqui Leimbach, Gretchen Brandt, Jeanne Mowlds and Pam Munzer.
Floriade will benefit the Banning Residence Museum, the historic and stately home of Phineas Banning, founder of the Port of Los Angeles.
Longtime Advocate: California’s First Lady, Gayle Wilson, longtime advocate for volunteerism, child welfare and science education, has been elected to Caltech’s Board of Trustees.
Her interest in science dates from her high school days at North High in Phoenix when she was named one of 40 winners in the nationwide Westinghouse Science Talent Search. She was valedictorian, too.
Elsewhere on the Social Circuit:
* Kudos to . . . Charles I. Schneider who has been elected president of the board of trustees of St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica. He succeeds Waldo H. Burnside, who moves up to chairman . . . Barbara Fountain of Palos Verdes Estates, installed as president of the National Charity League, Los Angeles chapter, at the Westwood Marquis . . . UCLA anthropology professor Christopher B. Donnan, archeologist and director of the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, presented the Orden al Merito por Servicios Distinguidos, Gran Crus , by Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. It’s Peru’s highest honor for a foreigner, comparable to an honorary knighthood in Great Britain. Donnan is considered the world’s authority on Peru’s pre-Columbian Moche culture. The decoration recognized his 25 years of study and promotion of the landmark exhibition “Royal Tombs of Sipan” at the Fowler Museum.
* Lindy Evans’ daughter is Jamie. She was misidentified in last week’s column.
* Pasadena doesn’t have a Tiffany’s. But new Beverly Hills Tiffany President Mary Swanby wanted to become better acquainted with the Crown City’s feminine leaders.
Wearing a pretty pink Tiffany sapphire ring, she hosted a friendly luncheon at the Huntington Ritz-Carlton, and invited a number of leaders, including Joan Hotchkis, Nancy Call, Nancy McCullough and Lynn Brengel, and downtown political dynamos such as Los Angeles city Chief of Protocol Lourdes Saab and Deputy Mayor of Cultural Affairs Sofia Zuckerman.
* Patti Edwards, wife of Jim Edwards Jr. of the Edwards Cinema chain, is the powerhouse behind Ferragosto.
That’s the traditional Italian midsummer festival to be celebrated at Tutto Mare Ristorante in Fashion Island in Newport Beach on Saturday.
Patti Edwards is president of the Orange County chapter of Childhelp USA, which will benefit from the Italian buffet, dance and auction.
* Friends of the Hollywood Bowl were in abundance as hostesses for opening night, but it doesn’t stop there.
Friends president Joan Stubbs of Manhattan Beach and opening night co-chairwomen Rebecca O’Neill of San Marino and Debra Edmonds of Brentwood give their loyalty to the Bowl all year long.
Friends has a current membership of 450. Besides generating nearly $70,000 yearly for the orchestra, the members stage an open house at the Bowl for 5,000 children each year, staff a gift shop, give Bowl tours and host the Peppertree Lane Programs that provide information about the Philharmonic and the Bowl.
Of course, the main job is promoting attendance at Bowl and Philharmonic events.
* The $1-million Pacific Classic will be run today, the highlight of the 56th season of summer racing at Del Mar. Thoroughbred fans will be in abundance. In July, Country Friends, the San Diego Opera and Social Service Auxiliary of San Diego hosted charities “where the turf meets the surf.”
More conducting fund-raisers: Scripps Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Junior League, San Diego Bar Assn., Belles for Mental Health, Voices for Children and the Starlight Society.
* Mary Lou Loper’s column is published Sundays.
