The Circuit

Visions’ Big Gamble Pays Off

Herbie the Love Bug went to Monte Carlo, but he should have attended Israel Cancer Research Fund’s (ICRF) Monte Carlo Night instead.

Held at the Park Plaza Hotel near downtown Los Angeles, Monte Carlo Night, organized by ICRF’s young leadership division Visions — The Next Generation, attracted a crowd of more than 300, predominantly single young Jews.

After the evening of live music and mixing, Greg Bell, Visions’ 34-year-old founder and president, told The Circuit that while the night’s total was just shy of the original $20,000 goal, he was pleased that the event raised $16,000, considering that this was Visions’ first. Bell and the Visions board have tentatively slated their next big event for March.

Meanwhile, ICRF proceeds with its “Rhapsody in Blues” gala on Nov. 10 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, where Andy Heyward, DIC Entertainment president/CEO, will be honored, and Dr. Laurence Heifetz and Dr. Daphne Palmer. A quarter of the proceeds will go to disaster relief agencies addressing the Sept. 11 attacks.

The ‘Dinners’ Party

The Council of the Library Foundation held a cocktail hour celebrating next month’s Literary Odyssey Dinners, which will benefit the adult literacy programs of the Los Angeles Public Library’s Central Library and its 67 branches.

Addressing the intimate crowd on the verandah of a Holmby Hills estate were librarians Nancy Harahan, president of The Council of the Library Foundation, and City Librarian Susan Kent.

On Nov. 5, 52 dinners will be held in exclusive private homes throughout Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Each dinner will feature a well-known author as a guest of honor. Present were participating authors, and actor Michael York (“Logan’s Run,” “Austin Powers”), who read a Shakespearean passage to evoke the sadness of the aftermath of Sept. 11 and inspire strength and hope.

Veronique and Gregory Peck are the honorary co-chairs of the Literary Odyssey Dinners, held every two years. Past Odyssey Dinners events held in 1997 and 1999 raised more than $750,000.

The Hallowed Halls

Monty and Marilyn Hall were honored at Julia Ann Singer Center’s Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show on Oct. 4 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Monty Hall, host of the classic game show “Let’s Make a Deal,” has received Canada’s highest honor, the Order of Canada. He has been actively involved in numerous causes, and his name graces the children’s wings of UCLA Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital. This year, the Center, a division of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, will celebrate its 85th anniversary.

OU’s Big Night Award of the Ring

The Workmen’s Circle/ Arbeter Ring will hold its annual awards banquet on Oct. 21 at the Fairmont Miramax Hotel in Santa Monica. S. David Freeman, California’s chief energy adviser; Aaron Paley, co-founder and co-chair of Yiddishkayt Los Angeles; and Benjamin Froman, the “chairmentsh” of the Arbeter Ring’s Southern California District, will be honored with awards, following an introduction by keynote speaker State Sen. Sheila James Kuehl. Seth Rogent and Jason Segel, the stars of “Freaks & Geeks” and Fox’s new “Undeclared” series (both critically acclaimed shows created by Judd Apatow) should prove lively as the emcees.

Mourning Kaddish

Mount Sinai Memorial Park-Hollywood Hills held its 47th Annual Kever Avot service to honor the memory of the dead. The memorial service included a program of cantorial and choral music, shofar blowing and prayer. Money raised will be donated to The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Victims of Terror Fund to aid the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Those in attendance raised $1,600, which Mount Sinai will match.

Breaking Ground

Wise Senior Services Board of Directors broke ground for its new Wise Senior Services Adult Day Care Center on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica on Oct. 4.

A Cause for Alarms

Israel Humanitarian Foundation (IHF) donated an ambulance to ZAKA, a subdivision of the Israeli police’s Disaster Victim Identification Department. This gesture is combined with the growing list of 130 projects in Israel and the United States that IHF has contributed funding to since its inception in 1960.

Honoring Merkin’s Heritage

Dr. Richard Merkin, a leader in the managed health care industry with his company, Heritage Medical Systems, will be receiving the 2001 Founder’s Award from the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony on Oct. 18 at the Beverly Hilton. Featured will be a live performance of the Symphony, under its Artistic Director Noreen Green. For information, call (818) 753-6681 or visit www.lajewishsymphony.com.

Enter Bragman

Howard Bragman, chairman and founder of Bragman Nyman Cafarelli public relations firm, has been elected to the board of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.