‘Feet’ Doesn’t Fail the Homeless

“On Your Feet,” a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness, took in $26,000 during its first fund-raising dinner, Sept. 23 at Tribeca restaurant in Beverly Hills. A surprise contribution of $10,000 came from Comic Relief president Bob Zmuda. ‘On Your Feet’ was co-founded by Nicole Pagourgis and Greg Nathanson, president of Fox TV Stations and general manager Fox KTTV, in March l989 and has placed about 165 families and singles in permanent housing to date.

* The Alfred Jay Firestein Diabetes Center of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center received $350,000 as a result of founder, Monty Hall’s continuing efforts at the 18th Annual Monty Hall/Big 5 Sporting Goods Tennis Tournament held Sept. 23 at the Playboy Mansion. Proceeds will be used to fund ongoing research, education and patient care at the center. Hall volunteers his time as honorary chairman of the event. Co-chairs were Bruce and Dana Kates.

* Orthopaedic Hospital received $63,000, proceeds from a benefit sponsored by Las Amigas de las Loma, an auxiliary of the Crippled Children’s Guild of Orthopaedic Hospital. The 33rd Annual Charity All-English Horse Show was held at the Empty Saddle Club in Rolling Hills Estates July 21 and 22. Proceeds will fund the purchase of a Microscan machine to benefit the children of the Lowman clinics at the hospital.

* Jeffrey Foundation for the Handicapped held its 9th Annual Celebrity Outreach Picnic in Marina del Rey, Sept. 9. The free picnic brought $200 in donations to help support foundation programs and new multipurpose day-care center.

* Shelter Partnership received a $585,179 donation Sept. 19 from RC Cola Co. This amount is a portion of the proceeds raised in connection with the Ray Orbison Tribute Concert held earlier this year. One half of the money will go to the National Coalition for the homeless and the remainder to 10 nonprofit organizations serving homeless people in Los Angeles County. The recipients are LAMP Village, a facility for mentally ill men and women on Skid Row; Watts Labor Community Action Committee, a shelter for women and children which also includes a job training program for homeless people, and the Shelter Resource Bank, a project of Shelter Partnership, which solicits and distributes new merchandise, free of charge, to local shelters and agencies.

* Arthritis Foundation, Southern California Chapter, netted $55,000 at its black-tie dinner Sept. 14 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Proceeds will be used for ongoing research and community services of the Southern California Chapter.