Women in Film’s Crystal Awards Luncheon Raises $150,000

Women in Film presented awards to Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy and Liv Ullmann at the 15th Annual Women in Film Crystal Awards Luncheon. Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams were also honored with Norma Zarky Humanitarian Awards. The June 7 sellout benefit, held at the Century Plaza, netted about $150,000. The national nonprofit organization works to improve the employment, depiction and position of women in film and television.

* Craft and Folk Art Museum’s annual Primavera Ball was June 1 at the St. James Club in Hollywood. The gala netted $65,000 to help support exhibitions, public education programs and ongoing operations.

* Southern California Counseling Center, a nonprofit community clinic, held its 25th anniversary black-tie gala May 11 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The event netted more than $60,000 for the center.

* Richstone Center, a child abuse and prevention facility, received a $50,000 grant from the Ahmanson Foundation to go toward a new facility to be built in 1992. D’Aulan Gentry and Donne P. Moen, co-chairs of the capital campaign, announced that this gift puts them over the 75% mark toward their goal.

* Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC received the $200,000 in net proceeds raised at the Freeman Aces Cancer Tennis Tournament held May 11 at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club. The tournament and other events were underwritten by Freeman Cosmetic Corp., which co-sponsored with Westwood One Companies. Proceeds will be used for cancer research.

* New Horizons, Villa Esperanza and California State University’s El Centro de Ninos y Padres will each receive $100,000 from Share Happily and Reap Endlessly. The $300,000 is part of a major donation philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian made to SHARE. The three recipients work with the young, the elderly and mentally retarded.

* Westside Center for Independent Living held its Celebration of Independence gala May 9 at the Century Plaza Tower. Evan J. Kemp Jr. was honored. The more than $100,000 netted will be used to provide services and to help facilitate independent living for people with disabilities. Boyd Haigler and Paul Steven Miller co-chaired the event.

* American Cancer Society’s San Gabriel/Pomona Valleys Unit netted more than $80,000 at the recent Daffodil Ball sponsored by the Cancer Victory League. Black-tie guests at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel in Pasadena honored Dr. James T. Helsper for his contributions in the fight against cancer.

* Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s cardiac research floor in the Barbara and Marvin Davis Research Building now under construction received a $2-million pledge at the United Hostesses’s Charities annual membership luncheon May 15 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

* United Jewish Fund’s 28th annual golf tournament at El Caballero Country Club May 15 raised almost $600,000. Proceeds will be allocated to more than 20 non-sectarian, humanitarian programs to help people in need around the world. The event, sponsored by the Valley Region Jewish Federation Council, was co-chaired by Paul Meshekow and Howard Jacobson. Leo Dozoretz is president.

* Cal State L.A. Hispanic Support Network’s scholarship fund-raiser, sponsored by McDonald’s, netted $6,000. Six students were awarded scholarships at the dinner, held at Luminaria’s Restaurant in Monterey Park.

* Chrysalis’ 5th annual “Monte Carlo Night” fund-raiser held May 8 at the Biltmore netted more than $70,000. A number of businesses donated items for a silent auction. Chrysalis provides employment services and affordable housing for the homeless.

* Motion Picture and Television Fund received a $1-million pledge from Bob Hope to go toward the fund’s recently completed $50-million capital campaign. The pledge was announced as Hope enjoyed an 88th birthday celebration.

* American Assn. of University Women’s Educational Foundation Program received a $10,000 donation from Dr. Edward L. Ghormley, in the name of his late wife, Evelyn McLean Ghormley. The program provides endowments, awards and grants to enable women to attain their educational goals.

* Hillsides Home for Children’s May 18 dinner/dance and auction, “Starry, Starry Night,” was held in the Pasadena estate gardens of Ben and Judy Reiling and netted $80,000 for programs and services. Hillsides has provided treatment programs and residential facilities for abused, abandoned and neglected children since 1913.