Children’s Burn Foundation honors longtime benefators – Pasadena Star News

Children’s Burn Foundation honored longtime benefactors, Kathy and Charlie Toppino, at its 27th Annual Giving New Hope Celebration at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 8.  Nearly 500 guests turned out for the evening, which raised more than $1.8 million for young burn survivors and their families.

For the past 21 years the Toppinos have been devoted to the  foundation’s  programs. In paying tribute to the couple, Doug Mancino, CBF board chair emeritus, said, “Kathy has been a highly effective board  chair of the foundation for six years, and before that, a strong leader of the CBF council, and Charlie has been a tireless fundraiser. Together, they make a great team!”

Kathy Toppino told of her pride in the CBF’s latest accomplishment.  “In an instant, a child’s whole life can be shattered by a severe burn,” she said. “Because we know that most childhood burns are preventable,  we have opened “Fire! Science & Safety,”  a permanent exhibit at the California Science Center in Exposition Park,  which will educate more than 350,000 children each year and quadruple our outreach. We have also expanded our global outreach with another mission to the Ukraine and we are continuing our support of a Burn Center of Excellence in Africa.”

A memorable highlight of the evening was the participation of teenage burn survivors  who shared  their experiences with CBF that included   comprehensive healing, psychological support and state-of-the-art plastic surgeries.

Fritz Coleman, NBC4’s witty weatherman emeritus, and a CBF board member, emceed the doings, with help from “Battle of the Chefs” host Chuck Dukas who presided over the live auction. The evening was co-chaired by Deb and Alan Barbanel, Lynda and Al Fidel and Adria and Pedro Marti . Among the attendees were L.A. City Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and incoming L.A. City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley.

OSCAR OVERTURE

Celebrating 30 years, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising opened its iconic annual exhibition, “The Art of Costume Design in  Film,” at the FIDM Gallery for a sneak preview of the creations from the designers nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards. More than 300 designers, studio reps, FIDM benefactors and an assortment of fashionistas turned out for the event, held on March 12, prior to the public opening on March 15.

The Oscar-nominated designers in attendance included Jacqueline West for “Dune,” Paul Tazewell for “West Side Story,” Mark Bridges for “Licorice Pizza” and Mary Zophres for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

Other film designers on the scene were Salvador Perez, president of the  Costume Designers Guild, Julie Weiss, Arianne Phillips, Nancy Steiner, Laura Montgomery and Jo Kissack.

Also spotted were FIDM execs Tonian Hohberg, Barbara Bundy, Nick Verreos, David Paul, Kevin Jones and Jacqueline Saint Anne.

This exhibit, which is free to the public,  is the only one in the world that pays homage to the creativity of costume designers. The FIDM Museum has one of the nation’s finest costume collections of more than 15,000 objects, dating from the 18th century. It is  open through June 4, and well worth a trip to the FIDM campus in downtown Los Angeles.

COMING UP

THURSDAY:  LA Opera presents Mexican tenor Javier Camarena, in recital with Cuban pianist Angel Rodriguez at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. 7 p.m. There will be an additional performance on April 2 at 2 p.m.

SATURDAY: The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills presents Kelli O’Hara with Seth Rudetsky as host and pianist in the “Broadway at the Wallis Concert Series.”

APRIL 6: “Gloria Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center” hosts the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Additional performances through April 10.

APRIL 6: Center Theatre Group opens Pearl Cleage’s “Blues for an Alabama Sky” directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum.  Performances continue through May 8.

APRIL 13: LA Opera presents the world premiere of “In Our Daughter’s Eyes,” a new work by Du Yun and Michael Joseph McQuilken, starring baritone Nathan Gunn. The REDCAT Theatre at the Music Center. Additional performances through April 17.

APRIL 14: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts  presents Complexions Contemporary Ballet performing two works by Co- Artistic Director Dwight Rhoden, the West Coast premiere of “Snatched Back from the Edges,” and “Stardust,” a ballet tribute to David Bowie set to his iconic hits. Additional performances on April 15 and 16.

APRIL 23: The Cancer Support Community Pasadena will honor Dana and Mike Naples and UBS Pasadena at its 32nd Angel Gala, “An Evening in Capri.” to be held at the Brandview Ballroom in Glendale.

APRIL 23: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, led by Music Director Jaime Martin, presents the U.S. debut pf Franco-Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulovic, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto at 8 p.m. The Alex Theatre in Glendale.

APRIL 24: The Pasadena Showcase for the Arts opens its 57th annual home tour to support Southern California arts. Tours continue through May 22.

APRIL 29: The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents its 2022 Gala Celebration, “Simple Gifts,” honoring film composer, James Newton Howard and the orchestra’s musicians. The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills.

APRIL 30: Ronald McDonald House Pasadena sponsors its 2022 “Walk  for Kids.” The Rose Bowl, Pasadena.

APRIL 30: Mayfield Junior School hosts its 2022 benefit, “Mustang Tailgate,” to be held on Spirit Field on the Mayfield campus in Pasadena.

MAY 7: Pasadena Art Alliance presents its 21st biennial art auction at the Masonic Temple in Pasadena.

MAY 14: Five Acres, an Altadena-based children’s care agency, hosts ‘Starry Starry Night,” its annual gala at a private estate in Pasadena.

MAY 17: Methodist Hospital Foundation hosts its annual Mardi Gras Food Fest at Sirona’s at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia.

JUNE 5: The Pasadena Playhouse opens Anton Chekhov’s classic play, “Uncle Vanya.” Performances continue through June 26.

JUNE 5: Ability First presents its annual Food and Wine Festival at the historic Laurabelle A. Robinson estate in Pasadena.

JUNE 8: The Luminaires of the Doheny Eye Institute host their annual benefit luncheon, “Back in the High Life,” at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.