CHARITY SCORECARD

* Celebrities dined, danced and auctioned off masks they created at the Free Arts for Abused Children gala, “Children Are Wishes,” Oct. 24 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. About 300 people attended and raised $145,000 for the organization, which helps abused, abandoned and neglected children gain self-esteem and trust adults through the creative arts. Free Arts Angel Awards, established in memory of Michael Landon, who was a supporter, were awarded to NBC weather caster Fritz Coleman and Michael O. Johnson, president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The auctioned masks were created by Ben Stiller, Jenna Elfman, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Roseanne, Penn & Teller, Nancy Cartwright and others.

* The creators, cast and writers of Fox’s “Party of Five” received the Good Grief Award from Our House, a nonprofit Los Angeles center providing grief support to those who have lost a loved one, for portraying the grief process with honesty and dignity. Accepting the award at the Oct. 21 event at Lowe’s Santa Monica Beach Hotel were executive producers Chris Keyser and Ken Topolsky and cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt and Scott Wolf. Los Angeles Times columnist Sandy Banks was given the HUG (Helping to Understand Grief) Award for writing about her experiences as a widowed mother. Jack Schaeffer, past president of the Our House board of directors, received the Founders Award. Comedian Jeannie McBride emceed the gala, which raised $118,000 for Our House. About 300 guests attended.

* “ER” and “Trinity” producer John Wells was given the Spirit of Leadership Award at the Lili Claire Foundation’s Oct. 25 charity auction and dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event, hosted by “Friends” star Matthew Perry, raised $250,000 for children and young adults with the genetic disorder Williams Syndrome. Graham Nash entertained the crowd of 630 or so guests, including “ER’s” Anthony Edwards and Yvette Freeman, the Los Angeles Opera’s Suzanna Guzman, Kathy Najimy of “Veronica’s Closet,” Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox of “Friends” and Jimmy Smits of “NYPD Blue.” The foundation was established this year by Keith Resnick and Leslie Litt Resnick in memory of their daughter Lili Claire Resnick, who died of Williams Syndrome at 5 1/2 months. The disorder is characterized by serious physical and cognitive disabilities, but sufferers often are gifted in language and music. Proceeds will go toward building the Lili Claire Multi-Media Theatre and Vocational Training Center in Las Vegas for people with the syndrome and other genetic disabilities.

* The 450 people who attended the Sunset Music Festival on Oct. 25 enjoyed the music of 16 up-and-coming bands at three clubs on the Sunset Strip: Key Club, the Roxy and the Whisky. About $63,000 was raised for St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital and This Little Light in Support of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The showcase included Belly Puddle, C&H;, Congregation, Ebb, Honey House, Jewel Thieves, Jimsonweed, Liar, Love Nugget, Lucie Gamelon, Jason Luckett, Mash, Gregory Page, Suzie Rose, Starbelly and SugaHed.

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Has your group held a charity fund-raiser recently? 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 news release to Charity Scorecard, Southern California Living, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-4888. Submissions must reach us no more than two weeks after the benefit.