In Fine Hepburn Style, Tiffany’s Helps Kids

In her own words, Anne Parducci “went for broke.”

But when you’re sitting ringside with fabulous people at a fashion show smack in the heart of Rodeo Drive, what’s $10,000 for a good cause?

That’s what Parducci spent Monday night as a 20-minute bidding war broke out for the doll du jour: a one-of-a-kind Audrey Hepburn doll--made by Mattel Inc.--in her role as Holly Golightly from the Paramount film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

The event--complete with champagne, caviar and diamonds--was a fund-raiser hosted by the folks at Tiffany & Co.

By night’s end, nearly $120,000 was raised through the auction and donations. The money will be shared by the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Children’s Fund and the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, created by her son, Sean Ferrer.

“I love Audrey--her sophistication and style and beauty. And I love dolls, so this was a perfect meld,” Parducci said of the silk-coutured doll adorned with authentic diamonds set in platinum, and with multilayered cultured pearls and bejeweled tiara.

Applauding Parducci’s fierce competitive style were celebrities Salma Hayek, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Jennifer Aniston, Sela Ward, Byron Allen, Daisy Fuentes, Jose Eber and Hepburn’s longtime companion, Robert Wolders. Also present were Michael Roberts and Dan McDermott, co-chairmen of the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s task force; Jill E. Barad, Mattel’s chairwoman and CEO; and Wally Steiner, Tiffany’s regional vice president.

Ferrer, moved by the tribute to his mother’s talent and humanitarian efforts on behalf of children, said, “She was beautiful from the inside. She was this lovely package of imperfection, which made her so special.”

Others agreed.

“The bottom line is that Audrey Hepburn had a beautiful heart. She was just a lovely lady to look up to,” said Fuentes, who also confessed that “diamonds and a good cause will get me out any time.”