Barbara DiamondDame Elizabeth Taylor could have read...

Barbara Diamond

Dame Elizabeth Taylor could have read the telephone book and gotten

an ovation at the Art for AIDS II fund-raiser held Saturday night at

the St. Regis hotel in Dana Point.

“If one person has changed the perception about AIDS, it is

Elizabeth,” Dr. Arnold Klein said.

Klein a resident of Laguna Beach, co-chaired the event with Al

Roberts, who founded AIDS Services Foundation here in town, and Jack

Kenefick, board member of the Laguna Art Museum. The two

organizations benefited from the proceeds, to be split equally. An

estimated $230,000 was netted, up $15,000 for each group from last

year.

“It’s special that you are here tonight to help serve this

wonderful cause,” Kenefick told the audience.

It was clearly Taylor’s night. Applause punctuated her prepared

speech.

It was her day. Gov. Gray Davis issued a proclamation making Feb.

8, 2003, Dame Elizabeth Taylor Day, in conjunction with the event.

The proclamation was announced in the ballroom and earlier in the

evening at a press conference attended by celebrity guests Penny

Marshall, Tom and Dana Petty, Carrie Fisher and the event co-chairs.

“Now, do we say, ‘There’s Nothing Like a Dame’?” Marshall asked.

Taylor was honored for her commitment to the fight against AIDS,

raising funds for research and helping to make the public aware that

the epidemic is not the bane of just one group, sex or age.

“People who give this [disease] a sexual name are simply

ignorant,” said Taylor, her voice made raspy by a “terrible cold.”

This year, Taylor said, as many women as men are infected. She

said up to 40% of the population in Africa and the Caribbean carry

the virus.

“Babies are been born to infected mothers,” said Taylor, whose

“Giant” co-star Rock Hudson died from AIDS. “I made a vow to myself

and to God that I would do something and I will continue to battle.

“But I can only do so much. I need you at my side. Together, we

can defeat this terrible enemy and by God, we will.”

Although suffering sniffles that interrupted her speech and a

broken foot, Taylor appeared more robust than last year when she

attended the first Art for AIDS fund-raiser, held at the museum. The

Pettys, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening and Fisher were

first-timers. Fisher, famed as Princess Leia in “Star Wars,” was

Taylor’s stepdaughter during the star’s marriage to Eddie Fisher.

Klein, a dermatologist -- but more, Taylor said, adding he saved

her life by diagnosing the pneumonia that almost killed her --

founded Arts for AIDS in 2002 with the support of Roberts and

Kenefick, then president of the museum board.

The collaboration came at a time when the economy had put a damper

on philanthropic fund-raising. It was seen as a natural alliance,

given the impact of AIDS on the art community.

Marshall did the heavy lifting for the second year, serving as

auctioneer.

Many men’s jackets and women’s gowns sported the red ribbon symbol

of the fight against the AIDS epidemic, including those who came to

support the museum.

“I am here for both,” Laguna Beach Realtor David Schaar said.

The event included a gala dinner with celebrities in the hotel’s

Club 19, a buffet dinner and entertainment in the Pacific Ballroom

and silent and live auctions.

A Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by Petty fetched a $9,500 bid.

A bid of $8,000 claimed a painting by late actress Claire Trevor,

stepmother of Irvine Ranch owner Donald Bren. A pair of Taylor’ shoes

was knocked down at $7,000, and a book signed by her cost $4,500.

Mark’s restaurant provided the gala dinner and contributed to the

buffet, as did Five Feet and Sundried Tomato, all of Laguna Beach.

Seating at the gala cost $2,000 per person. General admission to

the ballroom was $135.

“We’ve been looking back at the history of museum events, and this

is the biggest,” board member Macmillan said.

Although the foundation has long had vocal support from

celebrities for its production of “Splash,” Art for AIDS was

certainly the glitziest event in which the museum has participated.

It didn’t hurt the hotel’s image either to host such a glamorous

event that raised funds for worthy causes.

“The celebrity aspect makes it an opportunity for the media,”

hotel spokeswoman Heidi Jung said. “We have started doing events like

this that support local organizations with high profile supporters.”

* BARBARA DIAMOND is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.