Breathing EasierTwo Olympic gold medalists, boxer George...

Breathing Easier

Two Olympic gold medalists, boxer George Foreman (1968) and swimmer Tom Dolan (1996 and 2000), were honored at the 100th anniversary celebration of Barlow Respiratory Hospital, held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The venerable treatment center, nestled in Chavez Ravine, has embarked on a $3.75-million campaign for a new hospital that will increase its capacity from 49 to 84 beds. Built in 1927, the main facility must be brought up to seismic safety standards by 2008 or cease inpatient operations altogether.

Foreman was recipient of the Barlow Foundation’s first Humanitarian Award for his will to succeed and good works; Dolan received the Barlow Respiratory Hospital Award for his perseverence in spite of daunting odds.

Foreman’s mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was a teenager. “While she was away in the hospital, I got off on the wrong hand,” he said. “But when she came home, I straightened my life out and joined the Job Corps. I owe it all to her.”

Dolan’s connection is even more personal. Despite allergies, a narrow trachea and exercise-induced asthma, he has won six international gold medals and four silver. In accepting the award, Dolan said, “It’s a disease I’ve had to battle since I was 12. It doesn’t go away, and there is no quick fix, but visiting Barlow touches me close to home because the worst pitfall for an athlete is to think he’s invincible.

“Seeing the patients reminds me that I’m blessed to have the strength to overcome any obstacle. I receive hundreds of letters from young people with asthma, and I try to respond to every letter and encourage them.”

KCBS news anchor Jonathan Elias emceed the Feb. 16 event, which grossed $83,000. Among those attending were Dodgers exec Bob Graziano, chairman of the fund-raising campaign; Stanley P. Hebert III, Margaret Crane, Dale Kristien, Joseph Van Der Meulen, Dennis Zine, Jamaal Wilkes and one of Foreman’s sons, George III.

Patt Diroll

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Oscar Costumes

The opening of the 10th anniversary exhibition “The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” drew a packed house at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising last Sunday.

In the crowd grazing at Renaissance Caterers’ lavish buffets were two top contenders for this year’s Oscars: Judianna Makovsky, creator of the costumes for “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” and Ngila Dickson, co-designer for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Makovsky admitted that creating the wardrobe for the wizards of Hogwarts was quite a stretch from the designs that earned her a prior Oscar nomination, for the funky ‘50s fable “Pleasantville.” She said she felt very lucky that, as an American, she had the chance to go to England for the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling fantasy. “The illustrations on the cover of ‘Harry Potter’ vary in every country, so I didn’t feel obligated to replicate the costumes on the American edition. But I still get letters from children who’ve seen the film and challenge my choices. It’s really quite sweet,” she said.

New Zealand designer Dickson said, “I came to the project six months out. Richard Taylor had already done the armor for the film, so when I came on the project, my approach was a blend of the Tolkien illustrations with Taylor’s armor.” Like Makovsky, she said she tried not to think about the fact that so many have read the book and have their own conception of the characters. “We worked our fingers to the bone and did over 15,000 pieces in two years,” she said. When quizzed, neither nominee would reveal what she plans to wear to the awards ceremonies next month, but Dickson confided, “For sure, it will be made by a Kiwi.”

P.D.

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Romancing Stones

Major donors to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana gathered on Valentine’s Day for a romantic sit-down dinner and a preview of the facility’s new exhibit, “Gems! The Art and Nature of Precious Stones.”

After a champagne reception, about 80 guests were serenaded by strings as they dined on fare created by the museum’s Tangata restaurant: seared duck breast, lobster tail, lamb and bittersweet chocolate cake.

Also on the agenda was a tour by museum president and show curator Peter Keller, where guests beheld rare gemstones including a 242-carat tanzanite, believed to be the world’s largest, and a 200-pound gold-toned quartz.

“I love it all,” said museum board member and exhibit co-sponsor Ed Roski Jr. of Toluca Lake, who attended the event with his wife, Gayle. Michael Scott and Dee Dee Anderson Poiry were chairpersons. The exhibit runs through June 2.

Ann Conway

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Women’s Voices

Deborah Lipstadt, professor of modern Jewish and Holocaust studies at Emory University in Atlanta, was the keynote speaker at the annual Women’s Voices luncheon sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Orange County at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

Lipstadt, author of “Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory,” told the event’s 450 attendees that she tries to “stand up for people who didn’t have the chance to stand up for themselves.”

During the event, Natalie Mandel of Newport Beach was presented with the Anne Entin Woman of the Year Award for her 25 years of service to the group.

Pledges of $615,000 from the Feb. 14 luncheon will go to the federation’s annual campaign, which supports Jewish community services in Orange County and throughout the world. Jodi Greenbaum and Jacquee Lipson were event co-chairs.

A.C.

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Cheney Honored

Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne V. Cheney, were presented with Architect of Peace Awards at a benefit on Tuesday for the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda.

Donors to the library paid $2,500 per ticket for the sit-down luncheon, held in the facility’s entrance hall. Net proceeds of about $200,000 will be used for the library’s special programs and exhibits.

“The defining struggle of the 21st century is an enemy determined to kill Americans by any means on any scale and on our own soil,” Dick Cheney told guests, who included Julie Nixon Eisenhower and library chairman Donald Bendetti and his wife, Dorothy. “Our greatest priority is to prevent further attacks and be prepared should they come.”

During her remarks, Lynne Cheney emphasized the need to teach history to young people. The U.S. has a legacy of liberty for which their is no guarantee, she said. “We need to tell students the story of our past so they understand that freedom is not our natural heritage.”

A.C.

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Coming Up:

* Pianist Misha Dichter will headline the American Youth Symphony’s 37th gala benefit concert, which will honor conductor emeritus Mehli Mehta March 3 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Nancy and Zubin Mehta are serving as honorary chairmen. Tickets for concert only: $10-$60; concert and gala dinner $250. Call (310) 234-8355.

* Hispanics for L.A. Opera is sponsoring a dinner and recital featuring L.A. Opera resident artists on March 3 at Tamayo Restaurant in Los Angeles. Tickets $65-$75. Call (213) 368-9600.

* Youth Inc. has a celebration to benefit Los Angeles Kids 2002 on March 4 at Jillian’s Hi-Life Lanes, Universal CityWalk, Universal City. Tickets, $250. Call (877) 863-2041.

* Marlo, Terre and Tony Thomas celebrate St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s 40th anniversary at their annual benefit dinner March 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets $300. Call (310) 996-1188.

* Laurie Metcalf, Carrie Fisher, Martina Navratilova and Fran Harris will be award presenters when the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center honors Nina Jacobson, Jane Anderson and Subaru of America at its 19th annual Women’s Night, March 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets, $175 and $275. Call (310) 201-5033.

* Stephen Collins, Lori Milken and Yvonne Mounsey will be honored at the 2002 Bravo Awards presented by the Westside Ballet in association with A Place Called Home and Everybody Dance! Gregory Hines and Jenna Elfman will host the event March 9 at the Wadsworth Theatre in L.A. Tickets, $250. Call (310) 553-9007.

* The Los Angeles Philharmonic, in collaboration with Napa Valley Vintners and Patina Catering at the Music Center, will host a wine tasting, dinner and silent auction to benefit Music Matters, Keeping Music Education Alive in L.A., on March 13 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Tickets, $100 for wine tasting only; wine tasting and dinner, $500. Call (213) 972-3051.

The Jeffrey Foundation celebrates its 30th year of helping developmentally disabled children and their families with a salute to 1930s Hollywood, March 14 at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Tickets, $150-$250. Call (323) 965-7536, Ext. 21.

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Information for Social Circuits can be directed to Patt Diroll in Los Angeles or Ann Conway in Orange County. Diroll is at patt diroll@earthlink.net, Conway at ann.conway@latimes.com or (714) 966-5952.