CHARITY SCORECARD
More than $1 million was raised at the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary’s annual Odyssey Ball held April 10 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. California Gov. Gray Davis and Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan were among the 1,100 guests at the ball, at which the Special Service “Duke” Award was presented to Lynda and Stewart Resnick, owners of the Franklin Mint and Teleflora, for their philanthropic work. Wayne’s seven children and many of his grandchildren also attended. Joyce Krasny and Ina Lewis co-chaired the event, and actor Hal Linden emceed. The black-tie gala included a silent auction, dinner and dancing to Red and the Red Hots. The attendance and amount of money raised set a new record for this annual event. The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Santa Monica’s St. John’s Health Center is considered one of the world’s foremost cancer research and treatment centers.
* More than 300 people gathered April 8 at the historic Castle Green in Pasadena to drink martinis and raise $25,000 for the AIDS Service Center. The “Shaken, Not Stirred” event included jazz music by Sonji Kimmons, a cocktail bar, appetizer buffet, cigar lounge and a silent auction with more than 30 martini-themed paintings, sculptures and photographs. Some guests dressed in 1920s speak-easy attire in keeping with the casually elegant martini theme. The AIDS Service Center provides a full range of services, including counseling, legal help, nutritional education, a food panty and a thrift shop, to those affected by HIV-AIDS. The event was organized by Bridget Fonger, Curtis Hill, Chris Davidson and Kurt Carlson. Sponsors included Tangueray, Art Direction Services, Castle Green, City Cab, Boomerock, Bristol Farms, Houston’s Restaurants, Cafe Santorini, Il Fornaio, California Pizza Kitchen and Trattoria Farfalla.
* “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno entertained 750 guests at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Foundation’s 15th annual spring gala April 10 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. The ball raised $120,000 for the development of the Whittier hospital’s new Patricia L. Scheifly Breast Health Center, a comprehensive breast-care facility, which offers diagnosis, treatment, consultation and educational services.
Has your group held a charity fund-raiser recently? 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. 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.
