Fun Weekend Benefits The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center

By Janet Newcomb

Founded in 1986 by Barbara and Frank Sinatra, the nonprofit Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center’s mission is to counsel sexually, physically and emotionally abused children and to break the devastating cycle of generation-togeneration abuse. Situated on the
Eisenhower Medical Center campus in Rancho Mirage, its professional staff provides individual, group and family therapy for
children under the age of 18 who are suffering the effects of child abuse and neglect, or who are at risk of being abused.

REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING COME FROM A variety of sources, including area school districts, Child Protective Services, law
enforcement, doctors, social workers, relatives, and the Betty Ford Center. Since the Center counsels around 700 youngsters annually on an outpatient basis, and 86%of those children are fromfamilies living below the poverty level, fundraising
is critical to keeping the doors open. While the cost of counseling each child is around $4,000 a year, no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.

What is generally considered the most exciting of the Center’s fundraisers is The Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrity InvitationalGolf Tournament, which takes place this year March 1-3 at Eagle Falls Golf Course in Indio. The tournament, known as “Frank’s little party in the desert,” was launched in 1988 and has become one of the most successful events of its kind — in part because of the celebrities who support the Center and compete in the tournament. Barbara Sinatra hosts the weekend’s events, of
course, and among the celebrity golfers this year are Joe Mantegna, Steve Garvey, Rollie Fingers, Pat Boone, John Callahan, Dave Dettman (aka Dr. Gadget), William DeVane, Barry Gordie, Anne Meyers-Drysdale, Chad Everett, Dennis Farina, Vince Ferragamo, Tom Flores, Beverly Johnson, Ron Masak, Gary Mule Deer, Frankie Randall, Kevin Sorbo (Co-host), Paula Trickey, and Ron White. Norm Crosby and Peter Marshall are the Honorary Marshals, and Tom Dreesen emcees everything. And this year, for the first time, spectators will be admitted for free – and are welcome to bring their cameras and snap away!

There also are some non-golf events for the golfers, including the Pairings Party on Thursday, March 1, with singer Margo Rey entertaining; a dinner and live auction party on Friday with Dick Van Dyke & the Vantastix entertaining; and the Black Tie Gala on Saturday with Paul Anka entertaining. These evening events are already sold out, but the annual Fashion Show Luncheon on Friday will
feature an extraordinary meal and a runway show featuring the gorgeous creations of Ali Rahimi for Mon Atelier in Los Angeles. Tickets ($150) were still available when this issue was published. Educated in the classic tradition, couturier Rahimi creates exquisite one-of-a-kind pieces for Hollywood celebrities for their awards shows, as well as for many well-heeled socialites around the world. The parties all
take place at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

For more information about this fun and worthy weekend, contact the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational at 760.674.8447
or 800.FS STARS or visit www.FrankSinatraGolf.org.
To learn more about the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and to make a donation, call 760. 340.2336 or visit www.barbarasinatrachildrenscenter.org.
Visit www.monatelier.com to learn about designer Ali Rahimi, and search for him
on YouTube.