Honoring a Giver of the Gift of Hope

Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who chaired last year’s lively Getty House benefit (bringing the gross to $450,000) will be honored Feb. 25 at a dinner at the Beverly Hilton. The board and council of the Children’s Burn Foundation will give her its “1997 Giving New Hope Award” in hope that “this recognition of the hope one person can give through philanthropy will serve as an inspiration for all to make a difference.”

With her leadership, the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project has brought promise and hope to Los Angeles schoolchildren through restructuring, enriching and improving education.

Her generosity has also focused on education through neighborhood initiatives at USC, education for senior citizens at UCLA, learning programs for latchkey children through the Los Angeles Library Foundation and teacher education at the Menninger Foundation Center for learning disabilities.

The late actor McLean Stevenson will also be honored for his major leadership in founding the burn foundation, which provides financial resources for burned children requiring long-term care.

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Always Young: Alma Fitch, Daniel P. Garcia, former United Nations Ambassador Lester B. Korn, Warren W. Valdry and Lew Wasserman will chair the “UCLA and Los Angeles Gala” on Feb. 26 at the Beverly Hilton to honor the achievements of retiring UCLA Chancellor Charles E. Young and his wife, Sue.

More than 1,200 guests are expected. UCLA alumna Carol Burnett will introduce a video tribute featuring milestones of the 29-year Young era.

The Buddy Collette Band, Mariachi Los Comperos de Nati Cano, the UCLA Gospel Choir and the Kenny Burrell Jazz Ensemble and International Soundscape Project are tuning up to entertain. Proceeds will support construction of the Tom Bradley International Center at UCLA and scholarships for UCLA’s ethnic alumni associations.

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Petal Pushers: Las Floristas hosted a “Premiere Party” at the California Club to announce its 59th annual floral extravaganza, the Floral Headdress Ball, on April 25. Premiere chairwomen Susan Talesnick of San Pedro and Carolyn Rutter of Huntington Beach announced that Gail Reeves of Encino will chair the ball. The goal is $300,000, to add to the $5 million Las Floristas already has raised for disabled children’s clinics at Rancho Los Amigos.

The event will be dedicated to the memory of Kenneth T. Norris Jr. and Donn Lynn.

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Honorees: Cardinal Roger Mahony’s eighth annual Awards and Recognition dinner at the Beverly Hilton saluted Bishop John J. Ward, Helen Guho, William Rivera, Paul Salamunovich and three Immaculate Heart sisters--and also siblings--Sister Eileen, Sister Mary Enda and Sister Mary Michael Doherty. Proceeds from past dinners have provided $1.25 million to aid the poor, homeless and elderly and victims of abuse, earthquake and AIDS.

The Los Angeles Archdiocese’s recent ecumenical leadership luncheon at the California Club paid tribute to retiring Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude and his commitment to community health and welfare.

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Heart Talk: “Be My Valentine” luncheons are in abundance. Fashionettes host their annual “Sweethearts Luncheon” on Feb. 16 to salute Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin and Elke Sommer and Wolf Walther. . . . The Los Angeles chapter of Childhelp USA stages a “Sweetheart Luncheon” on Thursday at Wilshire County Club feting Childhelp supporter Billie Ruth Galef.

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Presenting: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Philoptohos Society Debutante Ball chaired by Bess Pappas honored Katia Bakas, Mollie Boltinghouse, Eleni Constantine, Christina Copes, Costandina Fovos, Ann Hawkey, Cleo Kades, Patrice Karavas, Stephanie Elaine Konopisos, Kathryn Otis, Maria Pantazis, Nicole Speliopoulos, Barbara Stamis and Dianthe Treantafelles. Sophie Mastor is president.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee president Mona Mapel and Pasadena Showcase House benefit chair Fran Biles presented the committee’s annual donation--$575,000--to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Kay Quinn will chair the 33rd annual spring Showcase. An English manor home designed by Stiles O. Clements in the 1920s will have its interior and exterior restyled to help the group raise more funds for youth concerts for fourth-graders.

* Loreen Arbus and Nancy Hutson Perlman celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Women’s Networking Luncheon on Feb. 19 at LeDome. The luncheon was created as a means for successful women, mostly entertainment-oriented, to meet their peers.

* Members of the Costume Council of Los Angeles County Museum of Art watched the preview of the Ermenegildo Zegna spring / summer collection and heard Anna Zegna speak on the history of the fashion company her grandfather Ermenegildo founded.

* Jack R. Borsting has been named chairman of Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation’s trustees. . . . Robert and Nadine Skotheim spotlighted the Huntington Art Gallery’s current “Masterpieces in Little: Portrait Miniatures From the Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” with an opening reception.