B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

One of my “crowd” spies reports that President Bush’s daughters, Jenna

and Barbara, have been spotted at various Newport Beach destinations.

Reportedly, the girls are not as enamored with Crawford, Texas, as is

their presidential father. It’s hot, it’s dry, it’s dusty, and the town’s

population is less than 100. Even the national press is complaining,

asking why the president couldn’t have built his home in a town with a

few more restaurants. So, as George and Laura enjoy the peace and quiet

of Crawford, the girls are spending a little bit of time on the

California Riviera as guests of Bush family friends Ben Crenshaw and his

wife, Julie, who have a beach house in Laguna Beach. If you are hanging

out at Bandera, Cowboy, Billy’s at the Beach, 21 Oceanfront or Roy’s and

you turn your head and happen to see two young women who happen to look

vaguely familiar, be prepared to spot a bevy of Secret Service agents

dressed in navy blue suits and wearing ear pieces.

Writer and performer Bruce Vilanch, a regular on the new TV show

“Hollywood Squares,” has agreed to serve as the emcee of the upcoming

AIDS Services Foundation fund-raiser set for Sept. 8. The Orange County

charitable organization, active for the past 15 years in promoting health

and hope for individuals suffering from HIV, will present itsversion of

World’s Fair -- New Orleans. The carnival-style extravaganza will be

part-Mardi Gras and part-amusement park. The centerpiece of the event

will be a parade, which will star Vilanch in the role of King Rex of

Mardi Gras fame. While most audiences are familiar with Vilanch vis a vis

“Hollywood Squares,” he has been a long-standing, behind-the-scenes

comedic force in the business for three decades.

“Supporting the AIDS Services Foundation is more important than ever,”

says Jorge Rodriguez, event chair and foundation board member. “We still

do not have a cure, and treatments are the only way to extend the quality

of life for AIDS patients,” Rodriguez will join forces with such local

activists as Al Roberts, Karen Ellis, Richard Johnson, Pearl

Jemison-Smith, the Rev. Michael Bucaro, Risa Groux, Brook Hazard, Ken

Jillson, Janice and Roger Johnson, Judith O’Dea Morr and Judith

Rosenthal. Tickets to the fair are priced at $100 with major underwriting

programs available for donations starting at $1,000 and rising to the

utmost levels of generosity. For reservations and information, call (949)

580-2020.

The Bush daughters were not spotted at Dennis Rodman’s recent summer

bash benefiting the Orangewood Children’s Foundation. A very young, hip

and good-looking crowd did turn out in force for the midweek evening,

which raised $7,200 for Orange County’s abused and neglected children.

For those wondering about the dollar amount raised, and perhaps thinking

the amount not sufficient compared with five and six figure sums raised

for various charitable events, this particular evening was a very

low-price ticket encouraging young people to get involved and to do

something positive for the community while enjoying the company of

friends. Not every charitable event on the Orange Coast needs to cost

$500 and more to get in the door. Every penny of that $7,200 raised was

collected with the best of intentions, and will certainly make a

difference. Nearly 200 Orangewood PALS, a young professional auxiliary of

the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, enjoyed the sold-out sunset mixer

that was hosted by the former basketball star and local “bad boy”

himself, Dennis Rodman. Also on hand was Paul Kariya of the Anaheim

Mighty Ducks and Sugar Shane Mosley, boxing’s world lightweight champion.

Both athletes turned out to support their friend Rodman and to be

associated with a very worthwhile children’s cause.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.