All Aboard for a Rewarding Ride

Not that they’re railroading, but the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) are steaming straight ahead on their “Mystery on the ARCS Express” fund-raiser March 23 at historic downtown Union Station. It’s their 38th annual gala. Bonnie Baker is benefit chairwoman; Joyce Hameetman and Evelyn Dees are co-chairwomen.

Since 1958, ARCS’ 13 chapters have raised more than $22.5 million for scholarships.

Sunday Galas: The Angels Flight tea dance this afternoon at Hotel Inter-Continental will be savored along with the tea, sandwiches, scones and strawberries. Then guests will listen to the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers (soon off on a European tour) and dance to the music of Leo Vera before nostalgic rides on the newly reopened Angels Flight railway nearby. Funds will go to the High School Choir Festival to be held March 28 at the Music Center.

And tonight the American Youth Symphony stages its gala concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, followed by dinner upstairs. The orchestra’s 87-year-old music director and conductor, Mehli Mehta, will be in the spotlight with pianist Yefim Bronfman.

Red Letter Dates: John Lithgow is top talent for the Alzheimer’s Assn. annual “Night at Sardi’s “ benefit Thursday. He’ll sing tributes to Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man.” Willson died of Alzheimer’s in 1984. This will be the fourth year the group has transformed the Regent Beverly Wilshire into New York’s famous Broadway restaurant. Also on stage: Lea Thompson, Sharon Lawrence and Dale Kristien.

In Orange County, Prego Ristorante and the Guardian Angels of Human Options don masks and costumes March 10 for “Italian Carnevale” celebrating Prego’s 10th anniversary and its version of Mardi Gras. Karin Lekas and Carol Littschwager are co-chairwomen.

Soaring: Kathleen McCarthy and her husband, Tom, who died in February, and George and Gretchen Gibbs organized the inaugural Los Angeles SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious Inc.) award dinner Thursday at the Beverly Hilton. The affair will honor the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters, recipient of the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. Stan Chambers will be master of ceremonies.

Tribute: At its annual meeting, Las Madrinas paid special tribute to one of its own members, Anne O’Melveny Wilson, as the “No. 1 ambassador” for Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. She has been president of the hospital since 1991 and was president of Las Madrinas in 1976.

Her sense of dedicated service to the hospital seems all in the family. Her grandfather, Henry O’Melveny, officiated at the 1914 dedication of the hospital in its present location. Her father-in-law was the first intern at CHLA in 1910, and her late husband John was a former chief of staff. Since 1970 she has managed the operations of the hospital thrift shop.

Las Madrinas raised more than $600,000 at its Christmas Las Madrinas Ball. Funds will be donated to the Las Madrinas Program of Molecular Genetics at the hospital as part of the group’s current pledge of $1.5 million toward endowment.

Also announced at the meeting: Susan Johnson Hull will head Las Madrinas as new president. Other officers are Maribeth Borthwick, Debbe Booth, Cindy Connolly, Vicky Martin, Barbara Fountain (past president) and Jane Ackerman. Margaret Larkin has been named ball chairwoman; Carlotta Keely, debutante chairwoman; and Sue Patrick, development chairwoman.

New members include Mary Byrnes, Pat Jakle, Patsy Lowry, Lorri McCarthy and Becky Smith.

Pasadena Guild: Virginia Eddington has been named president of the Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital, replacing June Banta. Other officers will be Joni Baker, Marcia Grace, Jane Wells, Cherry Bianchi and Susan Boyle.

The guild has announced completion of its obligation to fund $1.5 million for the chair in pediatric surgery held by Dr. Kathryn Anderson. New members--including Nancy Casey, Joan Cathcart, Lucy Crumrine, Kate Darnell, Lowry Ewing, Beth Stevens and Jinny Wilcott--have plunged into fund-raising, too.

Another Tribute: The Children’s Burn Foundation held “Giving New Hope” last month at the Beverly Hilton. Foundation founder Dr. A. Richard Grossman was honored. He is medical director of the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Carol Mancino and Larry Seewack co-chaired, working toward the foundation’s goal of a $10-million endowment.

Elsewhere on the

Social Circuit:

* Keeping up: The Navy Memorial Foundation hosted its Lone Sailor Award dinner at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda. Honoree was Kathryn Sullivan, Navy astronaut and the first American woman to walk in space. Former President Nixon was honored posthumously. Bob Hope accepted the Naval Heritage Award . . . Saks Fifth Avenue, with Katie Wagner and Eve Somer Gerber, hosted a fashion luncheon with Mark Badgley and James Mischka to support the USC Center for the Vulnerable Child . . . The Ferragamo family honored charitable work of Angelitos de Ora at the gala opening of the new Salvatore Ferragamo store in South Coast Plaza. Angelitos has raised $2 million for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County. Ferragamo’s president of U.S. operations, Massimo Ferragamo, was in the spotlight . . . Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue helped the Junior League of Los Angeles kick off its March 16 Casablanca bash with cocktail receptions. with cocktail receptions.

* Mary Lou Loper’s column is published Sundays.