Childrens Hospital’s Dream Coming True

It’s more than a dream. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is already in clover, raising private funds for the hospital’s Surgery Center Capital Campaign, part of a $50-million building project to link CHLA with the 21st century.

The Board of Regents counts $21 million in pledges and gifts, with $4 million to go toward the $25-million Surgery Center.

Regents chairwoman Anna Murdoch and J. Kristoffer Popovich, chairman of the CHLA Foundation trustees, are spearheading the drive.

Enthusiasm has been high, especially at the Westside home of Cheryl and Haim Saban, where details of the project added spice to a twilight reception and California ranch dinner.

CHLA surgeon-in-chief Kathryn D. Anderson; Anne Wilson, president of CHLA’s board of directors; Ronald E. Gother, chairman of the board; and Dr. Stephen B. Sample, USC president, listened to Dr. Stuart E. Siegel, head of Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, discuss medical progress. The nonprofit 318-bed hospital treats nearly 150,000 patients from newborn to age 18 each year. Big supporters: Marion and John Anderson, Bud and Merrill Grier, Margaret and Thomas Larkin Jr. and Peggy and James Galbraith.

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Ireland Fund: Roy and Patty Disney were honored Tuesday evening with the American Ireland Fund’s 1996 Heritage Award at the Beverly Hilton.

Gilded Disney and Dailey (Patty’s maiden name) crests illustrated the invitations. Both incorporate that symbol of power--the lion.

Stanley and Ilene Gold were dinner chairs, and Michael and Jane Eisner were honorary chairs. Roy Disney is vice chairman of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Co.

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They’re In: How Raylene and Bruce Meyer and their employees, without much breakage, ever got all the china and crystal moved into the new Geary’s on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills remains a wonder. Phyllis Hennigan and the Blue Ribbon support group of the Music Center recently surveyed the new shop over cocktails and wished it well.

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Tributes: Dr. Jack E. McCleary of Hidden Hills, new president of the California Medical Assn., was also presented the 1996 award for “the most distinguished medical alumnus” at Stanford University . . . Kim Campbell, Canada’s 19th prime minister and in 1993 its first female one, has been appointed Canada’s consul general in Los Angeles.

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Opening Night: Hillsides Home for Children crowded Pinot at the Chronicle in Pasadena, Joachim Splichal’s newest restaurant. The French bistro cuisine was so generous that surely no one ate the next day. In the crowd: Denise and Norm Mitchell, Hillsides President Devon Ortiz and Susan and Christopher Hillseth.

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Jag: It’s short for Junior Armory Group, supporting the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. The new group takes off on its first fund-raiser, a Halloween affair called “The Phantom of the Armory” on Saturday evening. Two hundred are expected, according to chairman Ed Konjoyan. On the committee: Courtney Evans, James R. McCrary, Leah and Doug McCrary, Perry Simpson, Alexandra Poer.

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Oktoberfest: The sausages, shrimp, swordfish and grilled vegetables were flipped by some amazing sous-chefs for the Childrens Chain of Childrens Hospital barbecue in Pasadena. Childrens Chain supporters Rick Hernandez, Art McClure, Jim Birdwell and Fred Rheinstein cooked like pros for the fund-raiser.

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Meow: The National Science Foundation has awarded the Natural History Museum a grant of $787,652, according to museum president and director Dr. James L. Powell. Funds will allow the museum to develop an interactive exhibition that uses the popularity of cats to teach history and biology.

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Midas Touch: The first Sabin Vaccine Foundation gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel is boasting proceeds of $300,000 to help create a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS virus. Kathryn G. Thompson was honored.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

The women of the Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital hold their 26th annual Treasures and Trivia benefit sale Friday, Saturday and next Sunday at 651 S. Fair Oaks, Pasadena. Donna Walker and Nancy Johnson co-chair with Robin Barker, Lindy Bedell, Cece Horne, Denise Wines and guild president Virginia Eddington.

* Lots of new members joined “Five Star Families” at its annual family celebration at the Natural History Museum . . . Glendale Memorial Health Foundation saluted Drs. David McAninch, Jack McNicholas, Hildegarde Wilkinson and Mary Wade Richard Whistler at their “Wine and Roses” benefit . . . Jay Smith III chaired the “Red-Hot Broadway” gala for Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.

* Kudos to John E. Bryson, given the Human Relations Award at the America Jewish Committee dinner . . . To Doyce B. Nunis Jr., speaker (“In Search of Old Los Angeles”) at the California Social Welfare Archives luncheon Monday at Southwest Museum . . . To Dot Richardson, Mark Crear, Arnold Grisham and Alma Reaves Woods, honored at the Watts Foundation Community Trust dinner . . . To Walter W. Mosher Jr., receiving the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Foundation Nelle Reagan Award on Friday at the Warner Center Marriott.

* Mary Lou Loper’s column is published Sundays.