Westside Center for Independent Living Associates Raise $35,000 At 6/18 Benefit

Ruth Kraft, Chairperson of the 34-year-old Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL) Associates' 2010 Sold Out Fundraising Dinner Party, "An Intimate Evening At The Beverly Hills Tennis Club," said $35,000 was raised at the event attended by 100 guests held at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club on Friday evening, June 18, 2010. Entertainment was provided by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actor and singer, Dick Van Dyke, and The Vantastix, a Barbershop singing quartet comprised of Dick Van Dyke, along with singers Eric Bradley, Bryan Chadima and Mike Mendyke. Pianist Jeff Lass and his Combo including Bassist Mike Uhler and Drummer Andy Paley also performed throughout the evening.

Van Dyke and The Vantastix charmed the crowd with barbershop musical renditions of songs from movies Van Dyke has starred in, including the titular song from the film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," as well as the songs "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from "Mary Poppins," among others.

The event was hosted by seven women members of the Beverly Hills Tennis Club in association with the Westside Center for Independent Living's Associates. The Hostesses included: Ruth Kraft, Betty Underwood Deutsch, Marjorie Fasman, Trudy Kallis, Ruth March, Dorothy Straus and Phyllis Wiseman. Susan Levin Corben served as Honorary Chairperson. Other members of the Associates Steering Committee included Rhonda Fleming Carlson, Louise Escoe, Barbara Gordon, Lola Jameson, Jean Katz, LaVetta Forbes, Ruth Ortega, Marcia Solomon, Dascha Auerbach Stuart and Ruth Tober.

Aside from the Hostesses of the event, among the 100 guests in attendance were: Trini and Ricardo Abellan, Aliza Barzilay (Executive Director of WCIL), Harriet Beck, Marjorie Bernheim, Marlene Billington, La Vetta Forbes, Barbara and Jack Gordon, James R. Grant, Jamie Hargrove, Robin Hargrove, Susan Holley, Lola Jameson, Richard Kraft, Sally Kurtman, Rudy and Darlene Malanga, Charlotte Rae, Julianna Roosevelt, Art Sanders, Lance Seabaugh, Marcia Solomon, Dasha Auerbach Stuart, Marcia Swarttz and Ruth Tober.

The event was catered by the Beverly Hills Tennis Club and featured an Open Premium Bar, Passed Hors D'oeuvres, a Catered Dinner and Dessert. A Silent Auction was also held.

About The WCIL Associates:
Founded in 1981 by Helen Levin, Betty Underwood Deutsch and Louise Escoe, The Associates of the Westside Center for Independent Living are a group of philanthropic community members who are dedicated to the cause of independent living for seniors and people with disabilities. In support of this mission, Associate members use their skills to educate and develop community advocates, support WCIL programs through membership development, provide volunteer services and present fundraising events.

About WCIL:
Established in 1976, the Westside Center for Independent Living is a non-residential center dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with all kinds of disabilities. The goal of the peer-led programs and services is the elimination of economic, social, attitudinal and environmental barriers.

More than 70% of WCIL's active staff members are people with disabilities. Each has a unique commitment to assist others with disabilities. Their understanding guidance and support give other individuals with disabilities the confidence to reach out toward their own independence using WCIL's programs and services.

WCIL's geographic service area runs from Malibu, including the Westside of Los Angeles, and down the coast to San Pedro and includes West Hollywood down to Carson with three Westside sites, Mar Vista, Santa Monica and Redondo Beach. WCIL's vision is that people with disabilities will have the same opportunities in life as people without disabilities. To learn more about the Westside Center for Independent Living, please visit the website www.wcil.org. A disability need not be disabling.

 

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff