Charlotte restaurant gift certificate

'Queen Victoria' to attend high tea fund-raiser in Palos Verdes

Her Majesty Queen Victoria will be the guest of honor at the American Association of University Women's Royal Tea at 2 p.m. April 10 at the Palos Verdes Art Center.

During the gourmet high tea, hosted by the Readers Theater branch of AAUW, guests will be treated to an entertaining performance giving glimpses into the life of one of Britain's most famous royals. The performance dialogue was researched and written by Jacqueline Mason of AAUW's Palos Verdes Peninsula chapter, and the piece is being acted, staged and costumed by the Readers Theater group.

Proceeds from the tea will support the AAUW Educational Foundation, which provides funding exclusively for graduate women. The foundation provides about $4 million annually in fellowships, grants and awards for women worldwide.

Tickets are $30, or $225 for a table for eight. Mail tax- deductible checks payable to AAUW-PVP to P.O. Box 2443, Palos Verdes, CA 90274. For more information, call 310-377-3896 or 310- 377-3729.

Splendor of the symphony

There will be something for every musical taste during The Friends of the Peninsula Symphony's annual benefit dinner at Los Verdes Country Club on April 10 -- even a piper with the 42nd Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums, who will call the guests to dine.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with wine and hors d'oeuvres enhanced by the music of harpist Pandora. Next, Capt. Douglas MacLeod Terrell will play his bagpipe. Following dinner, sopranos Brenda Lynne and Monica Mitchell will entertain guests along with Palos Verdes Ballet principal dancer Lydia Lee. The evening will conclude with Jim Sitterly on the violin and music for dancing.

A highlight will be a silent auction, which features among other prizes, a chance for two people to become food critics for a day, helping RAVE! Culinary Detective Chris Cognac select and critique a restaurant. Another silent auction item is a dinner party in a guest's home during which Juan-Carlos Cruz, The Calorie Commando on the Food Network, will give a cooking lesson on how to prepare a delicious and calorie-conscious meal.

The public is invited to attend the black-tie optional party. Tickets are $100. Proceeds will benefit the Peninsula Symphony and music education in the Peninsula schools. For reservations or information, call 310-541-3063.

Humanitarians honored

Bill and Pearl Baker of Rancho Palos Verdes were named Humanitarians of the Year along with the the Rev. Dan Kennedy of Long Beach and Kevin and Esther Schroeder of San Pedro during the Toberman Settlement House's recent dinner aboard the Queen Mary. The awards recognize outstanding dedication and work done by volunteers.

The Bakers are longtime volunteers as well as financial contributors to Toberman. Bill is a past member of the board of trustees, and he and Pearl served for many years as organizers of special events, including the Toberman Jazz concert and the first Toberman silent auction dinner.

"The Bakers are a great example of a two-for-one leadership package deal -- creative and dynamic leadership at that," Toberman executive director Howard Uller told guests. "They have brought us a mix of keen marketing and entrepreneurial skills, intensive sales efforts and wit. We are delighted to honor them for their leadership and generous support."

Kennedy had a major impact on Toberman's program development. Four years ago he initiated Toberman's current capital drive by giving a donation in excess of $1 million. "It is with great pride and respect that we honor Rev. Kennedy," said Uller. "He has enriched the lives of thousands of people in the community who may never meet or know him, but who are touched by Toberman programs."

The third Humanitarian of the Year award went to longtime labor leader Kevin Schroeder of ILWU Local No. 13 and his wife, Esther. According to Uller, the Schroeders come every Christmas with loads of holiday gifts for Toberman kids and gift certificates for teenagers.

"We salute the Schroeders for all they have done to impact San Pedro," said Uller. "Their personal courage, sensitivity and leadership have positively shaped and humanized our community well into the future."

The dinner in the historic ocean liner's grand ballroom raised $110,000 for Toberman's human service programs. Because of its success, Toberman will now feature this one annual dinner auction as its main fund-raiser instead of having several smaller benefits throughout the year.

Founded in 1903, Toberman annually serves more than 15,000 inner- city residents -- from newborns through seniors -- with 15 human service programs. Some of these include state-licensed child care, emergency food and clothing, an after-school safe haven where students come for homework completion, tutoring, reading development, a computer lab and recreation. For more information, go to www.tobermansettlementhouse.org.

Teen volunteers for summer

Perhaps because volunteering looks good on college applications, youth volunteerism is at an all-time high. The Volunteer Center's Volunteer Involvement Values Action Summer Program hopes to attract young people with engaging and interesting volunteer jobs, not only to enhance college applications but "to nurture civically engaged youth who have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to effectively change their community for the better."

The Volunteer Center is offering students ages 14 to 18 a program from the Points of Light Foundation that includes a preservice training, choice of volunteering at one or more of nine local, youth- friendly agencies and a certificate upon completion.

For 13-year-olds there will be a separate program that introduces them to volunteering.

For more information on the ninth VIVA Summer Program, go to www.volctr-sobay.org (click the Youth Program link) or call Ramona Pei at The Volunteer Center at 310-212-5009. Sign-ups will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 70 students.

AAUW presents authors

The Manhattan Beach branch of the American Association of University Women presents L.A. Story with five Los Angeles-based authors at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Torrance Hilton Hotel.

Authors include Luis Rodriguez, who wrote Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L. A. a first-hand account of the dangers of gang life; Nina Revoyr, author of Southland, the story of a Japanese- American lesbian lawyer who discovers herself after she sets out to uncover the secrets of her grandfather's past in L.A.'s Crenshaw District ; and Paula Woods, author of the Charlotte Justice mysteries including Inner City Blues, Stormy Weather and Dirty Laundry.

Other guests include Michelle Huneven, author of Jamesland and Round Rock, both New York Times "Notable Books" and emcee D.J. Waldie, author of Where We Are Now: Notes from Los Angeles, one of the Los Angeles Times' "Best Books of 2004."

Tickets are $45 and include lunch, the program and a book- signing. For more information, call Sandy Sidwell at 310-416-9644 or Ann Paour at 310-371-0470.