The Circuit

The Justice Beat

More than 3,000 young professionals gathered on Saturday, July 10, for the eighth annual Justice Ball. The fundraising event has earned a reputation as one of the “it” events of the summer among Jews and non-Jews alike. Hip singles, summer law interns, and L.A.-based attorneys came together for a night of music and dancing. The Hollywood Palladium on Sunset was transformed into a giant nightclub, complete with spotlighting and state-of-the art sound system. The ball featured live performances by Sugar Ray (Mark McGrath, Rodney Sheppard, Murphy Kargas, Stan Frazier and DJ Homicide) and a solo act by Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind.

A packed dance floor rocked to hit singles while other partygoers mingled on plush white couches or sat at tall bar tables eating food sold by California Pizza Kitchen. High donors mixed in the Smirnoff-sponsored VIP lounge. Several bars lined the dance hall and a free dessert and coffee table was donated by Starbucks.

The night’s honorary co-chairs included Timothy Busfield, Greg Germann, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina, Camryn Manheim and Kelli Williams. All proceeds from the hot summer night benefited Bet Tzedek, (House of Justice), a nonprofit public interest law firm that annually provides free legal services to more than 10,000 low-income residents of Los Angeles County regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. — Carin Davis, Contributing Writer

Spectacular Sports

The stars came out to play on June 27, when more than 1,800 sports figures, entertainers and business, civic and community leaders gathered at the Century Plaza Hotel’s Los Angeles Room for the 19th annual Sports Spectacular. Sponsored by the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the night raised a record-setting $1.5 million for The Medical Genetics-Birth Defects Center. The center provides diagnosis, prevention and management of all forms of birth defects and hereditary disorders affecting newborns, children, adolescents, adults and their families.

The evening started with a silent auction featuring more than 900 items, including Los Angeles activity packs like private beach volleyball lessons with Olympian Stein Metzger and golf for two at the Riviera Country Club; autographed sports paraphernalia like a Kobe Bryant jersey, Sandy Koufax baseball and Tiger Woods pin flag; and vacation packages to Hawaii, Jackson Hole, Pebble Beach and more. As parents bid on priceless items, their children played foosball, air hockey and raced electric cars in the kids carnival.

Following a sit-down dinner, honorary chairpersons John Salley, Tom Arnold and Jim Hill; presenters Will Ferrell and George Gervin; and guest speaker Rex Hudler, honored Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagné, legendary sportscaster Al Michaels and Los Angeles Lakers guard Gary Payton. San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds, San Antonio Spurs’ Robert Horry and Dodgers manager Jim Tracy also spoke about the honorees. Attendees included director Penny Marshall, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, Derek Fisher, Olympic swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg, former Dodger Steve Garvey, choreographer Chris Judd, Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe and hall of famer Dave Winfield. After the banquet, a VIP party was held in the courtyard. — CD

Hillel Honors Mandel

Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life presented Bea Mandel of the Los Angeles Hillel Council with its Exemplars of Excellence award at the national organization’s May Lay Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. She was one of seven lay leaders to receive the 2004 award, which honors their commitment to Jewish students.

Mandel was president of Los Angeles Hillel Council from 1994 to 1997. She continues to serve as vice president of personnel, and is known for her ability to identify and cultivate new Hillel professionals. Mandel has also served on Hillel’s international board for many years, chairing the International Lay Leadership Conference and serving as a vice chair of the national organization’s board. She also serves on the board of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. — Adam Wills, Associate Editor