Gala Brings In $600,000 for Science

Weizmann Institute of Science raised more than $600,000 at its Jan. 13 gala at the Century Plaza. Billy Crystal was the evening’s honoree. Proceeds will provide ongoing research at the center for scientific research and graduate studies in Rehobot, Israel.

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Hollenbeck Youth Center raised $10,000 at its kick-off event for the 1993 Salute to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Jan. 13 event, held at the Stadium Club at Dodgers Stadium, featured an exclusive autographed sports memorabilia auction.

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Vital Options raised $57,000 at its Dec. 9 Dance for Life at the Hollywood Palace. The group provides support for young adults (17 to 40) with cancer. Honorees were Dr. Michael B. Van Scoy-Mosher and Linda Otto, television director/producer. Selma R. Schimmel is founder and executive director.

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Childrens Hospital Los Angeles’ This Little Light Auxiliary raised $15,000 at its Dec. 31 black-tie gala at Culver City Studios. The legal firm of Breidenbach, Swainston, Crispo & Way helped underwrite the party. The hospital’s plastic and reconstructive surgery division will benefit from the proceeds.

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Inner-City Arts’ Dec. 7 benefit gala, attended by 350 guests at the Museum of Flying, netted $66,000. The money will be used to help operate the center, which provides positive experiences through the arts to 4,300 children living in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Inner-City Arts also works with the Los Angeles School District, serving 700 children in a program to build self-esteem through the arts. Executive director is Beth Tishler.

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The Center for the Partially Sighted in Santa Monica, has received a $60,000 donation to benefit visually-impaired toddlers through a program of prescribed special lenses, a vision-stimulation program and parental teaching.

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The United Way campaign party, held Dec. 3 in the lobby of Two California Plaza, was hosted by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Real Estate Industry. Proceeds of more than $40,000 will provide assistance to the needy.

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Hollywood Park Racing Charities Inc. has announced a $722,700 donation to be shared by 70 nonprofit groups in the Inglewood area. Among the recipients are St. Mary’s Academy of Los Angeles, United Methodist Jr. Basketball League and Youth Employment and Development Project, Hand-in-Hand, Recording for the Blind, Rebuild L.A. and the Magic Johnson Foundation.

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Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, Survive Foodbank of Riverside County, Food Distribution Center of Orange County and Foodshare of Ventura County, were helped in their efforts to assist the needy during the holiday season by donations of 221,500 pounds of food and $21,000 raised at Fight Hunger Day. The combined food and fund drive was sponsored by KCBS, KNX Radio, CBS-FM Oldies 93, Lucky Stores and the city of Los Angeles. The food banks serve more than 500,000 people each week through 1,000 charitable agencies.