ORGANIZATIONS

PARTY RAISES $8,000 FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS

About $8,000 was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at a dinner party hosted by longtime Glendale residents Warren and Joan Binzley.

“Twilight of the Pharaohs” was the title of the Sept. 27 event where 140 guests, dressed as ancient Egyptians, parked at a medical facility parking lot and were shuttled to the residence and guided through a mock tomb of an unknown king.

Emerging from the “tomb,” the guests entered the torch-lit grounds decorated in the theme of ancient Egypt. A two-story Anubis, king of the netherworld in ancient Egyptian mythology, stood guard over the grounds. Other decorations included a faux camel and a concrete black panther, as well as an elaborately ornamented throne.

Throughout the early hours of the party, Arabic music was heard in the background. Guests, who paid $40 per person, feasted on an authentic Egyptian dinner under an imposing three-story pyramid while a troupe of belly dancers entertained. Several hand-painted murals of the gods of the Nile were the backdrop for the Laurie Melan Band that performed later that evening.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation seeks the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis by improving the quality of life for those with the disease.

Throughout the years, the Binzleys, longtime Glendale residents, have hosted parties to benefit a number of different charitable organizations.

ASSOCIATION NEEDS PAPER FOR BUSINESS

For more than 40 years, Glendale Assn. for the Retarded has provided jobs for disabled adults at GAR Services on San Fernando Road in Glendale.

One of the many jobs performed at the association’s workshop is the manufacturing of newspaper rolls. The newspapers are collected throughout the community via a full-time driver. All newspapers are hand-checked and sorted by the clients for usable papers that are clean and undamaged.

The full-size newspaper sheets are unfolded and stacked on top of the other until they reach approximately 12 inches tall. They are then rolled and tied into 17-pound rolls and sold to various companies including lighting manufacturers that use the paper for packaging material. The association’s clients, more than 65 developmentally disabled adults, are paid for this work.

The association needs more paper. GAR will provide a bin for local buildings or residences.

For more information, contact Lisa Peterson, production manager, at (818) 242-2434 or lisa@garservices.org.

The association is a nonprofit, tax-exempt agency serving adults with disabilities primarily related to mental retardation.

Founded by a Glendale couple in 1954, the association owns and operates GAR Services, a work training center providing vocational, educational and social programs; Pastimes, a community integration program; and three group homes providing a full-time residence and living arrangements for many of GAR’s clients.