Locals joined in to help support Peggy Albecht’s Friendly House at its 27th annual Awards Luncheon in Beverly Hills.
The community resource is one of the first in the country to provide needed services to women with drug and alcohol issues. The institution presented award-winning actress Katey Sagal with the “Woman of the Year” Award and philanthropists Linell and Robert Shapiro with the “Humanitarian Awards.”
Longtime television reporter, sportscaster and author Pat O’Brien ran the show while Sherri Lewis wowed the crowd with a rousing rendition of “Being Alive.”
Luncheon Co-Chairs Sydney Holland and Howard Samuels welcomed guests and led them in an enthusiastic sing-along of “Happy Birthday” in honor of Friendly Houses’ 65th anniversary of service to women in need of recovery support.
Board President Michael Collum introduced emcee O’Brien, who was joined on stage by board member Nanea Reeves. Reeves told a moving story of her mother’s assistance and ultimate sobriety through the Friendly House program. She explained the importance of fundraising for the success of Friendly House’s efforts, introduced the text donation mobile app for donations, and encouraged the audience to give and give again. O’Brien made sure the audience was kept up to date on the leaderboard contributions throughout the event. The awards luncheon raised $250,000 to support the continued recovery support success of the Peggy Albrecht program. Bravo!
MALIBU’S MAD MAN MEL
H
e’s 90 years old, but Malibu’s comic genius Mel
Brooks is still putting on the Ritz. The mastermind behind such classics as “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “High Anxiety” and “The Producers,” Mel is turning his talents from cinema to print. His latest endeavor is “Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book: The Story of the Making of the Film.”
If you’re a “Young Frankenstein” fanatic, you’ll flip.
It’s jam-packed with archival interviews from the film’s stars, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes photos.
When revisiting the 1974 classic flick, he said it looked even better than then it did decades ago. So keep Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Igor and Frau Blucher away from your door. Remember, it’s only Abby Normal.
…AND MORE MEL
M
alibu Seen came across a heavily bearded Mel Gibson at a local pharmacy the other day. He was picking something up and took a Fiji water with him. When the cashier asked him for five and change he casually responded, “Five hundred?”
“No,” replied the cashier “Five dollars.”
“Even with this?” he said, pointing to the small bottle of water.
“Yes,” the cashier replied.
Either way, it’s enough to make most people envy his insurance program. In addition to that, director Gibson is enjoying a big buzz over his latest flick, “Hacksaw Ridge.” Now, about that beard…