Believe it or not, Tony Dow, legendary big brother Wally in the iconic “Leave It to Beaver” TV series, turned 70 this year. No big deal in and of itself, except that you’ll be able to wish him a happy birthday, however belated, at the 31st annual Fire Fighters and Friends Celebrity Waiters Luncheon for United Cerebral Palsy. The event is set for Friday, Sept. 25, at 11:30 a.m. at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa, 2000 Second St. in Coronado. The luncheon draws a host of local and Hollywood celebrities to wait on some 400 participants. Last year, it raised $60,000 for United Cerebral Palsy. Funds support the services that the group provides to cerebral palsy patients, including parent/sibling support groups and training and counseling programs. Other celebrities at the event will include international model and former Sports Illustrated spokesperson Melissa Biggs; former professional beach volleyball champion Roger Clark; daytime Emmy Award nominee Patrika Darbo; award-winning “Knots Landing star Kevin Dobson; TV actor and former Mr. Austria Roland Kickinger; Chip Mcallister, who with his wife Kim finished first on the CVS reality show “The Amazing Race”; and actor Lisa Ann Walter, who appeared in “War of the Worlds” with Tom Cruise and “Bruce Almighty” with Jim Carrey. Since 1980, the firefighters have raised more than $2 million for UCP and have contributed thousands of volunteer hours for the organization. The Firefighter Community Responsibility Fund, established in 1973 by Local Union 145, has generated substantial monetary contributions for charitable organizations. Other sponsors for the event include KyXy 96.5, Energy 103.7, LocationEdit, Berkshire Hathaway HomeState Companies and San Diego Community Newspaper Group, publisher of La Jolla Village News, The Peninsula Beacon and Beach & Bay Press. The United Cerebral Palsy Association of San Diego County was founded in 1958 and is among the top 10 largest nonprofit organizations in the country, with 100 affiliates nationwide providing programs and services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Cerebral palsy is a childhood movement disorder caused by damage to parts of the brain that govern coordination, balance and posture. It is the most common movement disorder in children, occurring in approximately 2.1 percent of 1,000 live births. The extent of symptoms ranges from extremely minimal to virtual inability to function. The condition remains stable throughout the patient’s life once its causes set in. Tickets start at $75 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the UCP office at (858) 571-5365, ext. 112, or by visiting the UCP website at ucpsd.org.
