Benefit Nets $175,000 for Movie, TV Fund

Motion Picture and Television Fund benefited from the 8th Annual Golden Boot Awards held July 28 at the Century Plaza Hotel. The event netted $175,000 (which includes a $50,000 donation from the Mary Pickford Foundation). To date, more than $900,000 has been raised. Honorees were actors Gene Autry, Noah Berry Jr., Sam Elliott, George Kennedy, Burt Reynolds and Katharine Ross. Directors honored were Hal Needham and Budd Boetticher. MPTF provides medical, social services and retirement care to industry employees, retirees and dependents.

* City of Angels Hospice received a $2,500 donation from Eileen Brennan from her performance in “Bebop & Bobbysix” concert with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles July 13. The hospice is known as the Congregate Living Health Facility for the Terminally Ill.

* Make A Wish Foundation of Los Angeles held its 6th Annual Celebrity Tennis Classic Aug. 11 at the Beverly Hills Country Club. The classic, sponsored by the Southern California Honda Dealers, was hosted by Martina Navratilova with 70 celebrities participating. More than 2,000 guests helped raise more than $200,000. The foundation, started in 1982, grants wishes to children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses. Money raised will fulfill more than 200 wishes of children in Southern California this year and next.

* American Film Institute Associates’ hosted the world premiere screening of “Air America” Aug. 9 at Mann’s Chinese Theatre; the screening was attended by 1,400 guests. A buffet dinner followed. Net proceeds of $160,000 will benefit the American Film Institute. Co-chairs were Joan Ransohoff and Susan Leider.

* Watts Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club will benefit from “Summer Fresh ‘90,” an anti-drug, anti-gang charity concert staged Aug. 9 by the national radio syndicate, Bailey Broadcasting Services. Record companies and corporate sponsors donated more than $10,000 in products to the children who attended the event.

* Neil Bogart Memorial Laboratories held its 6th annual gala July 11 aboard the luxury cruise ship Crystal Harmony, honoring Whoopi Goldberg with the “Children’s Choice Award.” More than $500,000 was raised at the event, co-sponsored by Crystal Cruises, and will be used to fight pediatric cancer and AIDS.

* Santa Barbara Fire Relief Fund and other organizations will benefit from the $110,000 raised at the Joe Cocker Live and Friends Concert held July 21 at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. Joe Cocker, Pat Benatar and Joe Walsh performed before 4,500 guests, aiding victims of the fire-devastated community. The Red Cross will receive $5,000, Santa Barbara Fire Relief Fund $30,000 and the balance will be distributed to schools, homeowner groups, volunteer fire departments and others. For those in need of assistance due to the fire, call (805) 967-5891.