Teams in Maze Find Way to Aid Charities

To open the Amazing Maize Maze in Camarillo last week, 27 teams representing corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies participated in a charity invitational that split $4,000 among some local groups.

The teams, totaling 108 people, raced through the two miles of pathways with the Poppy Power team taking the $1,500 top prize, which it is giving to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Husky and the Cobbettes came in second, so $1,000 will go to Interface, Children & Family Services of Ventura County; Parks Sparks was third, sending $750 to the Ventura County Discovery Center.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ventura County also will get $750.

Richard and Beth Rogers, owners of the farm where the cornfield maze was created, contributed $3,000 of the prize purse.

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The Long Beach branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People is honoring the organization’s Western regional director, Frank L. Berry, for his civil rights leadership and volunteer services of the last 30 years.

“His commitment to justice is really behind his volunteering,” said Marilee Jones-Cofield, the branch’s membership chairwoman.

She said the event Sunday at the California Recreation Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Long Beach won’t be just speeches. “We’ll have great food too. Wings and greens.” She has more information: (562) 426-3722.

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Summer chic will be the dress, and a walk-on in ABC-TV’s “Dharma & Greg” will be among the auction items at an Aug. 15 benefit for the Ark Trust Inc., a national animal protection organization founded by actress Gretchen Wyler and based in Los Angeles.

The second Party at Sea will sail out of Marina del Rey that evening on a five-level yacht. Deck-top dancing, a vegetarian buffet and casino will be part of the entertainment. Tickets are $100 and won’t be sold that night. For more information, call (818) 501-2275.

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A former resident of a Torrance retreat for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts had a fund-raising idea that eventually became “An Evening with Brahms, Mozart and French.”

The annual chamber concert, now in its third year, will benefit the Gratitude Retreat Foundation. Tickets are $20 for the event, which will be Sunday at the James Armstrong Theater. For more information, call (310) 781-7171.

“Give It Up For . . .” will report regularly on selected SoCal benefits, honors and activities--both planned and completed. Please send detailed information to “Give It . . .,” Southern California Living, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 or fax to (213) 237-4888. Photographs also may be sent but cannot be returned.