Charity Scorecard

Celebrities gathered July 22 to help raise $75,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at an opening night benefit performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Those attending included honorary guest ringmaster David Hasselhoff, Jeff Altman, Mr. Blackwell, Nell Carter, Jane Seymour and James Keach, Teri Garr, Donna D’Errico and Nikki Sixx, Christine Lahti, Marty Ingels and Shirley Jones, Connie Stevens, Bryan Thompson, Mark Thompson, Mimi Rogers, Maureen McCormick, Marie Osmond, Donny Osmond, Kate Jackson and JoBeth Williams, Stars and their families gathered before the “Greatest Show on Earth” for a dinner reception, followed by a preview of the interactive Three Ring Adventure, where they met Khan, the world’s tallest man, and Michu, the smallest man on Earth; fed exotic animals; and watched a clown transform into character. Three Ring Adventure is open to the public one hour before every show. The circus runs through Tuesday at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim and Thursday through Aug. 9 at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles.

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The Smashing Pumpkins rock band donated $432,191, the total revenue from the group’s July 1 and 2 concerts at the Universal Amphitheatre, to Five Acres, the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles. The bequest to Five Acres was part of the band’s 14-city tour for its new album, “Adore,” to benefit youth-oriented charities. The band expects to raise about $2.3 million for designated charities. Founded in 1888, Five Acres was one of Los Angeles’ earliest orphanages and is now a nationally recognized prevention, treatment and education center for abused children and families. Five Acres also runs family group homes and foster care.

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United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles & Ventura Counties raised $120,000 with the help of 144 golfers at its second annual Golf Classic Tournament at the Wilshire Country Club on June 29. Among the participating celebrities were Miss USA Shawnae Jebbia; Jamie Farr (“M*A*S*H”); KNBC-TV newscaster Paul Johnson; Steve Soboroff, senior assistant to L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan; and sports commentator Terry Donahue.

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Has your group held a charity fund-raiser recently? Let us know about it. We will report on selected local benefit projects and events. Please tell us about your organization and the charity you support, how much you raised, how the charity uses your gift and the details of your event--what, when and where. Send a letter or press release to Social Sunday, Life & Style, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-4888.