Humanitarian Gala Nets $260,000 to Fight Prejudice

National Conference of Christians and Jews honored Mark B. Levey, Patrick W. Collins and Harry Little at its 17th annual Food & Beverage Industries Humanitarian Awards dinner dance March 14 at the Century Plaza. The gala netted more than $260,000 for programs to reduce prejudice among teen-agers and help people of diverse cultures understand and respect others.

* L.A. Shanti’s Valentine Ball at the Cocoanut Grove Feb. 9 raised $60,000. Proceeds will provide emotional support and educational services to people affected by HIV, AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses.

* The Shakespeare Festival/LA’s mission, helping to feed the hungry by quenching cultural thirst, collects canned food as admission to its productions. It provided 48,000 cans of food to 4,000 Southern California families in 1990.

* Goodwill Industries of Southern California received a $34,500 check March 6 from Goodwill Industries Auxiliary president Phyllis Russell at its annual dinner meeting at the Women’s City Club in Pasadena. Auxiliary volunteers staged 28 shows of antique fashions to raise money during the last year. Proceeds will help improve training programs and equipment and purchase a new van for disabled employees.

* Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel will receive almost $400,000, proceeds from a benefit dinner sponsored by Friends of Tel Hashomer Jan. 30 at the Beverly Hilton. Helen Sarlui-Tucker was dinner chairwoman.

* LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone) received almost 80,000 pounds of food collected by the Los Angeles County Chiropractic Society, results of a Feb. 14 “Helping Other People Eat Day.” During the annual event sponsored by the society, participating members ask patients to donate nonperishable food in lieu of payment for chiropractic treatment.

* Casa Colina Children’s Services Center in Pomona raised $25,000 at its open house and auction March 14. The center provides specialized rehabilitation services for disabled children and adults. Proceeds will provide computerized teaching aids for children with learning and communication disorders and scholarships for children.

* Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation’s dinner on March 9 at Santa Anita Park was co-hosted by Lilah and Roger Stangeland and Betty and Robert Strub. Pledges and renewals of memberships netted $14,000 for youth leadership development programs.

* Museum of Contemporary Art has received a $50,000 grant from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation of Los Angeles. Proceeds will be used to purchase a work by a living artist.

* National Gaucher Foundation raised an estimated $10,000 March 14, proceeds from a book publication party for Sharleen Cooper Cohen, author of “Lives of Value” Twenty/20. Proceeds will be used for treatment of Gaucher’s disease patients.