Southland Philanthropists Turn It Up
Los Angeles is revved up: The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1 million has been awarded to the International Rescue Committee to aid the world’s refugees. The Long Beach Cancer League raised $325,000 at its Tour de France extravaganza on Sept. 27. Las Floristas will give $300,000 Wednesday to the Las Floristas Disabled Children’s Clinics at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center proceeds of its Floral Headdress Ball. Crossroads Elementary School has an expanded site due to the generosity of philanthropists Peter and Eileen Norton.
Then, there is the breakdown on early gifts for Marlborough School’s Campaign for a New Era of Excellence: $2.8 million from the estate of Kenneth and Helen Mitchell; $1.8 million from Nancy Barry Munger and Charles T. Munger; $1.15 million from the Ahmanson Foundation; $750,000 from the Harvey S. and Mildred E. Mudd Foundation; and $500,000 each from Phila Caldwell and Peter Mullin.
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Honoring Children: More than 5,000 children and parents are helped annually by the Children’s Bureau of Southern California, a leader in child abuse prevention and treatment. League for Children, a bureau support group, hosts dinner and dancing Oct. 24 at the Petersen Automotive Museum to raise funds for the bureau’s $8-million operating budget. Barbara Knight, league president, and Coco Viault chair the party.
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Sugarplums: Pasadena Children’s Guild members are putting thousands of hours into their Christmas Boutique and Brunch, “Visions of Sugar Plums.” The Nov. 15 event will be headed by Hillary Marble at the home of Dr. John and Mary Kasabian. At the guild’s preparty Nov. 14 (chaired by Missy Alfieri), members will toast their cause, “Young and Healthy,” a program to provide free medical, dental and psychological services to Pasadena children without health insurance.
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Past Perfect: Carolyn Ludwig and Elizabeth Up de Graff chaired the Autumn Cotillion at the California Club. In the crowd: Lynn and Hugh Evans, Nancy and Arden Day, Fred and Kathleen Allen, Jane and George Barrett, Brian and Vicki Corbell, Ed and Clarice Ellis, Stuart and Carrie Ketchum, Maurice and Carol Inman, Betsy and George Link, Judith and Cliff Miller, Gilbert and Claire Shea and Daisy and Bill Spurgin.
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Racing Around: The Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita opened its 19th season with gusto. Clement and Lynn Hirsch, at the front table in the Directors Room, greeted arrivals including Bill and Katie Shattuck, Bill and Jan Baker, Charles and Kathy Johnson, John and Betty Mabee, Joan Irvine Smith, Georgia Ridder, Jane Messler, James Moiso and Betty Strub . . . Jack Kemp, a former congressman, secretary of Housing and Urban Development and professional football player, was introduced by Henry R. Kravis, New York investment banker, at Claremont McKenna College’s Kravis-de Roulet Leadership Luncheon geared to “Training to Lead: The Impact of Sports on Leadership.” The Biltmore Bowl gathering preceded campus seminars. Next on the college’s agenda: establishing a Family Institute.
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Upcoming: Mary Lou and George Boone will be named outstanding philanthropists at the Los Angeles chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives breakfast at the Beverly Hilton on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 21 . . . The Carson Cos. will present Dominguez Brand Awards for South Bay community service Thursday. The Carson family once held the Rancho San Pedro land grant. Seventh- and eighth-generation Dominguez-Carson family members expected at the luncheon for 400 are Janice Ogden Carpenter, Kent Caldwell Cooper, Patrick Hanrahan and Arthur Rasmussen Jr.
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Arts in Action: The Pasadena Symphony kicks off its 70th season with a black-tie gala dinner Saturday chaired by Phillip K. Sotel before the 8 p.m. concert in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. . . . The symphony’s Viennese Ball Committee already has mailed patron letters for another gala, this one “A Night in the Vienna Woods” on Valentine’s Day at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington . . . Bulgari on Rodeo Drive welcomed the “Countess Maritza” L.A. Opera gala committee for cocktails to herald the Nov. 22 opening of the operetta at the Music Center . . . Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera has dubbed its third annual party Oct. 25 “An Evening on Broadway.” Betty J. Stephens promises New York street scenes and dancing all night at Hope Ranch.
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Princess Royal: Princess Anne of Great Britain starred at the Childhelp Gala at the Arizona Biltmore to benefit abused children. Childhelp, chaired by Sara O’Meara, and founded in Los Angeles, recently relocated its national headquarters to Scottsdale.
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Preview: Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and Clara and Jacob Maarse chair “Dinner at the Grove” on Oct. 21, the preview of the Los Angeles Garden Show at the Arboretum in Arcadia. The show is Oct. 22-26.
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Flowery: The board of the Pasadena YMCA will present “Spirit of Pasadena” awards to florist Jacob Maarse and the Santa Anita Foundation Wednesday at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington . . . Jane Wyman will present the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award to Beverly Hills rheumatologist Dr. Rodney Bluestone. Other honorees will be philanthropists Sharlee and Jerry Asher on Friday at the Arthritis Foundation’s party at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.
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MOCA: Director Richard Koshalek headed a reception Sept. 30 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where donors viewed their gifts to the permanent collections. Then everyone bused over to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA for supper.
Elsewhere on the Social Circuit
* Plaudits to John Cushman III, who raised $352,000 for the Los Angeles Boy Scouts at a golf tournament at Friendly Hills in Whittier.
* The Western Center on Law and Poverty gathered for a garden party fund-raiser Sept. 30 at the home of John and Louise Brinsley, with former Secretary of State Warren Christopher on hand.
* The Napa Valley Museum’s $3.5-million building is nearing completion on its four-acre Yountville site. The structure will be inaugurated Nov. 22, but the grand opening is planned for January.