Charity Scorecard

About 900 people gathered Aug. 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the “Miracles” gala to honor Rosie O’Donnell and raise nearly $250,000 for Vistas for Blind Children and the Institute for Families of Blind Children. O’Donnell received a Distinguished Achievement Award for her work on behalf of children. The talk show host and actress is involved in many causes, including the Children’s Defense Fund, Hale House and her own organization, For All Kids Foundation. O’Donnell donated her award to the auction to raise more money. Actor Leslie Nielsen bought the crystal statuette. The money will be used to establish a clinical treatment and research center to help fight retinoblastoma, a rare form of life-threatening eye cancer that can strike infants.

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Actress, singer and motivational speaker Ann Jillian received a 1998 Israel Cancer Research Fund Women of Action Humanitarian Award at the third annual “Women of Action” luncheon Aug. 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. The event, attended by about 300 people, grossed $50,000. Net funds will go toward cancer research in Israel. Jillian, who won a 1988 best actress Golden Globe award for her autobiographical portrayal in the TV film “The Ann Jillian Story,” was the first known celebrity to have survived breast cancer and gone on to give birth to a healthy baby.

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Pacific Bell, Pacific Bell Mobile Services, Motorola and the United Way presented $8,000 and 10 digital PCS phones with phone service to Interval House, a domestic violence shelter in Long Beach. The “Wireless Alliance for Safe Families” event was held Aug. 14 at the shelter. State Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) and Long Beach Deputy City Prosecutor Julie Alban spoke at the event. As a result of her domestic violence episode, Alban uses a wheelchair. The wireless phones are used by case workers visiting homes without phone service to report abuse and call for medical help.

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The Munger Center for Psychological Services raised $3,600 at its “Tricks and Treats” luncheon and magic show at the Magic Castle in Hollywood on July 26. About 120 guests attended. The Munger Center provides affordable therapy.

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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 news release to Social Sunday, Life & Style, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-4888.