SEND IN THE CLOWNS
It looked like a three-ring circus at Jane Seymour’s oceanview estate as Patch Adams and pals helped raise money for the International Toy Bank. The colorful characters came decked out in purple wigs, baggy checked pants, wide polka-dot ties, mismatched socks and clown-sized clodhoppers.
The International Toy Bank is the creation of Malibu resident Nancy Butner. In addition to teddy bears and Beanie Babies, the organization distributes badly needed medical supplies to impoverished children in such countries as Nepal, Haiti, Brazil and Romania.
Patch Adams was honored for his work with World Peace Clowns, which travels around the globe spreading joy and laughter.
“Patch has been a great mentor,” says pal Bruno the Clown. “He takes us clowns around the world to visit sick kids, poor kids, deprived kids, underprivileged kids, forgotten children, and we just see their faces light up.”
Bruno is quick to point out the healing power of humor, saying, in light of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, it is needed now more than ever.
“We’re not just going to keep our red noses in our pockets because of tough times,” he explains. “Laughter is therapy. It brings people out of their sorrow and is the best medicine you can get.”
RIDE ON, DUDE
Modern day Moondoggies and Gidgets gathered at Granita for the Surfrider Foundation’s 5th annual Save the Malibu fundraiser. They came in all their puka shell finery sporting summer tans, bleached blond tresses and the very latest in haute Hawaiian wear. In between bites of Wolfgang Puck pizza and sips of asparagus soup, Surfrider supporters browsed a silent auction, which appropriately featured items such as a Pepto Bismo pink Kayak and a 1972 signed Sonny Vaderman board. Following a gourmet dinner, David Carradine picked a few numbers on his Gibson guitar while a performance artist painted ever-changing scenes on an oversized plastic canvas.
Surfrider celebrated its success as a local organization that took off and now has 28,000 members and dozens of chapters worldwide.
“The secret is people power,” says Surfrider’s Chris Evans. “We’re grass roots. We’re people who live at the beach and want to protect what we have.”
Co-Chairman Hersh Farberow agrees. “We’re a symbol to the world. If Malibu doesn’t have clean water, what does that say?”
In addition to cleaning up local beaches, Surfrider’s latest focus is opposing the Ahmanson Ranch development project, which, it says, will introduce all sorts of waste, dust and silt into the environment.
As Surfrider sees it, clean oceans and beaches have never been more important. Says Evans, “We live in a different world now. We really need to protect what we have for our spirits and our souls. We need to create a place that’s clean and keep it clean for future generations.”