Charity Scoreboard
The Los Angeles Free Clinic raised $650,000 at its annual dinner Dec. 7 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Roger and Michael King, chairman and chief executive, respectively, of King World Productions Inc., and Gary Yates, president of the California Wellness Foundation, were honored--the Kings for their longtime commitment to the clinic’s founding principle that health care is a right and not a privilege, and Yates for his grants for wellness education and disease prevention in California. “Hollywood Squares” host Tom Bergeron emceed the event, attended by 700 guests including Roseanne, “Hollywood Squares” regular Caroline Rhea, comedian and writer Bruce Vilanch, and Fox Sports News anchor Chris Myers. Bernie Brillstein and Ellen Hoberman chaired the evening; honorary dinner committee members included Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Short, Alex Trebek, Vanna White, Andy Friendly, Don Ohlmeyer and Peter Chernin. The clinic has been providing free health and dental care, counseling, legal assistance, and other services since 1967.
* Gov.-elect Gray Davis and his wife, Sharon, Holly Holberg Brooks and producer James L. Brooks, and Western International Media were honored with Spirit of Hope awards at the HELP Group’s second annual Teddy Bear Ball, Dec. 6. The gala, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, raised $500,000 for the more than 2,500 children and families the group serves annually. Pat O’Brien of “Access Hollywood” emceed the evening, attended by 550 guests including Shirley MacLaine, Penny Marshall, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Michael Keaton, Christine Lahti, Dyan Cannon, Hollywood attorney Ken Ziffren and former footballer Rosie Grier, who played Santa Claus during a Christmas carol with the children. A golden retriever puppy was auctioned for $5,600, and two Mercedes-Benzes, a cruise and an autographed Kings hockey stick were also among the auctioned items. The HELP Group is a family of nonprofit agencies that provides opportunities for children who were abused or neglected, suffer from mental retardation, autism, learning disabilities, or social and emotional problems.
* Kirstie Alley (“Veronica’s Closet”), Jason Beghe (“To Have & to Hold”), Jenna Elfman (“Dharma and Greg”), Leah Remini (“King of Queens”) and Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart on “The Simpsons”) performed at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International’s Christmas Stories events Dec. 4 and 5. The two nights of entertainment raised $10,000 for the Hollywood Police Support Assn.’s annual Christmas party for underprivileged children and the Hollywood Police Activities League’s inner-city youth programs. Musical entertainment included performances by Edgar Winter and film composer Mark Isham. About 750 attended the events, which included a 1930s-style radio show setting with performances of traditional and original stories and songs. The Police Activities League is a nationwide program that provides educational and recreational activities for at-risk youths as an alternative to gang activity. The Hollywood Police Support Assn. provides meals for hundreds of needy families and gifts for the children at its annual Christmas party. The Celebrity Centre, in Hollywood, also held a Nov. 30 benefit concert featuring Sanora Dinamita, raising $5,000 for the survivors of Hurricane Mitch in Central America. On Dec. 12, the center hosted its seventh annual Grand Masked Ball and raised $15,000 for the Hollywood Arts Council, which offers annual programs, such as the Children’s Festival for the Arts, the Jazz Pilgrimage and community mural projects, in an effort to revitalize Hollywood and benefit the community through the arts.
* Sidney Poitier was honored with the Anti-Defamation League’s Lifetime Achievement Award and House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt with the Harvey Torch of Liberty Award at the league’s Dec. 6 gala. Gephardt also presented the keynote address. More than 1,400 people attended the annual dinner-dance at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City and raised $986,000 for the league, which works to combat prejudice, bigotry, anti-Semitism and discrimination. Director Arthur Hiller presented Poitier with his award. Grazyna and Bill Simon co-chaired the event.
* Chefs and hoteliers showcased their offerings and services at a Dec. 3 reception and Dec. 4 dinner at the Regal Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, and raised more than $300,000 for PBS’ West Coast flagship station, KCET. The “Around the World With Relais & Cha^teaux Showcase” Dec. 3 featured Domaine Chandon champagne and hors d’oeuvres, and exhibits on 200 of Relais & Cha^teaux’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants around the world. There was also a silent auction coordinated by Christie’s Los Angeles. Radio personality Michael Jackson emceed the Dec. 4 event, which included a dinner prepared by 55 Relais chefs. Seventeen five-course menus were served with wines to about 700 guests. Robert Mondavi was honored with the Relais & Chateaux inaugural Award of Excellence for his contributions to the world of wine and food. Relais & Cha^teaux is a hospitality association of 415 independently owned hotels and restaurants in 42 countries.
* The Los Angeles chapter of the National Charity League raised about $22,000 at its Dec. 5 holiday luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, attended by 350. Proceeds will benefit the Hollywood-based Head Start preschool program, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic facility in Hollywood and USC’s School of Education’s Stoops Library Assessment Center for graduate studies.
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 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.
