They Did It All for Worthy Causes Around Town
Here are some of the recent events to benefit nonprofit and service organizations and honor individuals for their community service:
For her longtime support of the City of Hope, veteran entertainer Florence Henderson was honored with the Star of Hope at a luncheon on the grounds of the Duarte-based medical center Nov. 30. . . . The New Israel Fund to support nonprofit organizations in Israel honored California Assembly Speaker Robert M. Hertzberg and Los Angeles businessman and community activist David A. Abel at its eighth annual Guardian of Democracy Award Dinner Nov. 30 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Barbara and Zev Yaroslavsky, Jonathan Zasloff, Mel Levine and Fred Gaines co-chaired the event, which raised $450,000. . . .
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and his wife, Janet, hosted a dinner Nov. 30 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to honor Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, for his encouragement of positive portrayals of the military through film and television. Valenti, a World War II fighter pilot, received the first Citizen Patriot Award. The first “Spirit of Hope” award was given to its namesake, Bob Hope. His son, Tony Hope, accepted on his dad’s behalf.
The eighth annual Divine Design gala held at Pacific Design Center Nov. 30 honored Jami Morse Heidegger, president of Kiehl’s, the Beverly Center and Darren Star, creator of “Sex and the City,” and raised more than $1.2 million for Project Angel Food, which provides free meals to people living with HIV and AIDS. . . . The California Fashion Industry Friends of AIDS Healthcare Foundation benefit fashion show, a tribute to designer Nicole Miller and model Cheryl Tiegs held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel Nov. 29, raised more than $400,000 for AIDS research.
Anne O’Melveny Wilson, chairwoman of the Associates and Affiliates of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, was in the spotlight at a luncheon at the California Club Nov. 29 honoring past presidents of the Associates and Affiliates of CHLA. For her years of service, a five-year, $5-million pledge to fund an endowment for nursing excellence in her name was announced.
The 25th annual Breath of Life Ball held Nov. 29 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel raised $250,000 for the Southern California chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Donald Sterling chaired the evening, honoring Robert H. Lorsch with the organization’s highest honor, the Rikki and Fredric D. Rosen Humanitarian Award.
Ten young women made their bow at the 52nd annual Coronet Debutante Ball on Nov. 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Stepping through a giant coronet were: Andrea Bogdanovich, Jennifer Driver, Alicia Forry, Michelle Fuhrer, Christina Harding, Laura Kelly, Alexandra Klinger, Kelly Lewis, Christine Murdoch and Courtney Pace.
Bogart Backstage: On Tour for a Cure, a benefit for the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund, honored SoundScan’s Mike Shalett. Held Nov. 19 at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, the event raised more than $1.2 million for research on children’s cancer, leukemia and AIDS.
The first Super Saturday Day L.A., a designer garage sale, sponsored by L’Oreal at Paramount Pictures Nov. 18, raised more than $600,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
Computer wizard Ron L. Jones, an Exposition Park native, received the Innovation Award 2000 at the first 50 Most Important African Americans in Technology Awards held Nov. 18 at the California African-American Museum.
The fourth annual Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala sponsored by Lucky Brand Dungarees, held Nov. 17 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, raised $700,000 for children’s charities supported by the Lucky Brand Foundation.
The CLARE Foundation, a private nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment center, raised more than $178,000 at its annual Friends of CLARE Tribute Diner. Actress Charlotte Rae was the guest of honor at the event at Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel Nov. 16.
California Secretary of State Bill Jones was honored by the Dutch American Heritage Assn. at its annual gala Nov. 16 celebrating Dutch American Heritage Day at the California Club. The gala, which raised $50,000, inducted Jones and eight previous honorees into the newly established Dutch American Hall of Fame celebrating the contributions of Americans of Dutch ancestry to American society.
The Canyon Charter School--the 106-year-old schoolhouse in Santa Monica Canyon and the oldest school building still in use in the city of Los Angeles--celebrated its renovation at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Gray Davis and Mayor Richard Riordan presiding Nov. 16.
The Gregory Peck Readings Gala sponsored by the Los Angeles Public Library Nov. 14 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel raised $300,000 for the library’s literary endowment established in his name.
The 62nd annual First Century Families Luncheon held Nov. 13 at the Beverly Hills Hotel was filmed for the USC archives to aid in the preservation of the memories of the descendants of pioneers who came to Los Angeles before 1881.
Otis College of Art and Design broke ground Nov. 13 for a new fine arts building, the Bronya and Andy Galef Center for Fine Arts, on the Goldsmith campus in West Los Angeles.
The Love Ride 17 to benefit Reading by 9 and MDA, led off by grand marshal Jay Leno on Nov. 12, drew an estimated 24,000 bikers and raised $1.2 million.
The John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Terry Fox Run 2000 held Nov. 12 at L.A.’s Veterans Administration Park attracted more then 1,200 runners and raised $270,000.
The fourth annual Women in Jazz Benefit Concert Series sponsored by AMASSI Center Nov. 12 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre raised $50,000 to fund HIV and AIDS prevention programs for women in South-Central Los Angeles. . . . Magic of the Season, the annual holiday fashion show and auction hosted by the Junior League of Long Beach Nov. 11 at the Long Beach Hyatt Regency Hotel raised $17,000.
Members of the Assistance League of San Fernando Valley report that their Tea ‘n’ Talk fund-raiser held Nov. 11 at the O’Connor Center in Woodland Hills raised $38,000 for the Operation School Bell program, which provided new school clothing to 460 needy children.
Marilyn Handelman, chairwoman of the 17th annual Mystic Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, presented by the Conejo Valley Guild of UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer center Nov. 11, raised $28,000.
The Israel Cancer Research Fund’s I Love Paris gala Nov. 11 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel honored Dr. Edward H. Phillips, director of endoscopic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, with the Excellence in Medicine Award and producer Richard Kagan with the Humanitarian Award. More than $500,000 was raised to fund fellowships in Israel for cancer research.
Crystal Stairs, a private nonprofit child development agency, raised more than $150,000 at its 20th anniversary celebration Nov. 11 at Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City. Pauletta Washington, wife of Denzel Washington, received the Crystal Stairs Award in recognition of her efforts on behalf of children’s welfare. “Still Climbin’ ” awards were presented to husband-and-wife child-care team Eugenio and Margarita Ruiz and to Lisa Rumph, a mother of four who has rebuilt her life.
Director John Schlesinger (“Midnight Cowboy,” “The Next Best Thing”) was honored with the Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center at its 29th anniversary ball. Held Nov. 11 at L.A.’s Westin Bonaventure Hotel, the evening raised $700,000.
The Vanguard Cancer Foundation’s fund-raiser hosted by actor John Stamos and his wife, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Nov. 11 at the Westin Long Beach Hotel raised $60,000 for needy cancer patients.
Members of the Los Angeles Founder chapter of ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) honored scholarship winners from Southern California institutions at a luncheon Nov. 10 at the California Club and distributed more than $1 million to the seven recipient schools.
The Los Angeles Make-A-Wish Foundation raised more than $83,000 at the Wish Night 2000 Awards Gala Nov. 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. For their contributions to the organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, Hilton Hotel Corp. and individuals Jerry Thurman and Joan Vorpahl were given awards.
A benefit dinner for Venice-based St. Joseph’s Center sponsored by Clifford Waeschle, Joyce Rey and Coldwell Banker held Nov. 8 at the Hotel Bel-Air raised $35,000 for the center’s programs for children.
Actor Ray Romano, star of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” hosted the inaugural Children Affected by AIDS Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic Nov. 6 at Lost Canyons Golf Club in Sun Valley. It drew 135 players and raised more than $300,000.
The Alliance for Children’s Rights, an organization providing free legal and social services referrals to impoverished children, raised $900,000 at its seventh annual dinner Nov. 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Sandy Grushow, chair of the Fox Entertainment Group, received the group’s 2000 National Champion for Children Award and Dr. Robert Morris was recognized with the Francis M. Wheat Community Services Award, named for the alliance’s founder, who died this year.
An evening of music, art and dance presented by performance artist Lhesli Michelle Dove Nov. 5 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Studio City raised $1,000 for Children’s Institute International.
The Shoah Foundation’s inaugural Ambassadors for Humanity Brunch held Nov. 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel raised more than $400,000. The foundation, established by Steven Spielberg in 1994 to preserve the testimony of Holocaust survivors, honored local philanthropists Nancy and Howard Marks.
Robert Silverstein, co-chairman of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Campaign for the 21st Century, was honored by members of the United Hostesses with their 2000 Humanitarian Award at their 58th annual dinner dance held Nov. 4 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Miracles III, sponsored by Retinoblastoma International Nov. 4 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, honored John Travolta. The black-tie evening raised $90,000 to fund treatment for the cancer that originates in the eyes of infants and toddlers.
The 2000 Twice a Citizen Awards dinner sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation paid tribute to L.A. police Chief Bernard C. Parks, actors, Mike Connors, Dennis Franz, Craig T. Nelson, and Robert Stack, attorney Gloria Allred, L.A. police Reserve Officer William D. “Andy” Anderson, Jane and Bert Boeckmann II, and Thomas McKernan Jr., president of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Staged at the Universal Sheraton Hotel Nov. 4, the event raised more than $50,000, according to dinner Chairman Bobby Sherman.
Dr. Michael J. Patzakis, chairman of the department of orthopaedic surgery at USC School of Medicine, was honored by the Hellenic American Medical and Dental Society of Southern California at its annual dinner at USC’s Town and Gown Nov. 4. The event raised $44,000 to fund scholarships for medical and dental students of Greek heritage.
A Night at the Mocambo, honoring actor Edward James Olmos at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, raised more than $100,000 for the Door of Faith Foundation, serving orphanages in Baja California, and the Marconi Foundation for Kids.
Saddleback Memorial Foundation, the fund-raising arm of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, honored Myrtle Dermody, Marcie Eden, Dr. Jay Young, C. Arthur Schneider, Helen Lyon and Doctor’s Ambulance Service at its second annual Spirit of Philanthropy gala. Held Nov. 2 at Irvine’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, the evening raised more than $50,000 for the Laguna Hills hospital.
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services honored Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Arthur M. Kassel and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the fourth annual Mentor Awards Gala on Nov. 1 at the Regal Biltmore Hotel. Nita and Jim Hathaway chaired the event, which raised $120,000. Phyllis Shapiro has been appointed to direct a new program to recruit and train volunteers to work with residents in the Optimist Youth Homes Programs.
Actors and Others for Animals report that the group’s annual Celebration of Caring Luncheon, at the Universal Hotel and Towers in Universal City, yielded more than $100,000 to promote animal welfare and spaying and neutering programs.
