Fund Raising

African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma withdrew Wednesday from a charity fundraising banquet honoring former boxer Mike Tyson after being criticized by South African women's groups. Reporters arriving at the event were handed a statement from organizers saying Zuma "had been called away on urgent ANC business." The banquet featured an auction of Tyson items to benefit children's organizations. Women's groups had called on Zuma to withdraw from the event.

More than three years after Fullerton residents raised $3.5 million to save the historic Fox Theatre from the wrecking ball, the 82-year-old structure remains in peril. Despite the efforts of preservationists, the dilapidated one-time vaudeville theater and movie house stands in contrast to the urban hipness that has swept downtown Fullerton, now brimming with upscale restaurants, jazz clubs and a lively street scene.

The Democratic presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that their primary and caucus victories this week had translated into big numbers: $7.2 million in donations for him and $6.4 million for her. The influx of cash since Super Tuesday meant that some top Clinton aides who briefly had given up their paychecks would now get their money.

Forget the front row at Marc Jacobs -- this was the hottest place to be during New York Fashion Week. On Wednesday night, Gucci pitched an enormous tent on the north lawn of the United Nations and threw a party that felt like the Vanity Fair Oscar bash gone East. The evening, hosted by Madonna, was a benefit for the UNICEF Children's Fund and Raising Malawi, organizations that fight the effects of AIDS on children in Africa.

From his South Texas home, Chuck Barracato watches the news to see how Barack Obama is doing. When Barracato is moved by Obama's message or senses that the Illinois senator could use some help, he digs into his savings and chips in $25 for the candidate's presidential campaign. Barracato's payments, sent by computer click, add up to $700, maybe a little more.

With less than an hour to go in UCLA's 26-hour charity dance marathon, Anthony Barbir shook his hips, raised his hands high into the air and sang along to "We Are Family." By Sunday afternoon, the 20-year-old world arts and cultures student had been on his feet for more than 25 hours . . . and with only an hour left in the fundraiser benefiting pediatric AIDS organizations, he had no plans to slow down. "I feel like I could do it all again!" he yelled over the music.

The baseball ground rules are different in Cambodia. A ball hit off the water buffaloes grazing in the outfield is in play, but a ball lost in the adjoining rice paddy is not. And timeout must be called whenever a motorcycle approaches on the dirt road that cuts through the outfield. "You can't put it in perspective with words," said Jim Small, managing director for Major League Baseball's operations in Asia. "You just need to see it." But even then you can't always believe what you're seeing.

With food and fuel prices soaring, the United Nations agency charged with feeding the world's hungry has launched an "extraordinary emergency appeal" to cover costs and avoid having to cut aid, a senior official said Monday. The World Food Program called on donor nations for urgent help in closing a funding gap of more than $500 million by May 1.

In his remaining months in office, outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez hopes he can leave a long-lasting mark on the Legislature with new term limits, a ban on fundraising during key periods and a new way of drawing state voting districts. He and the Assembly's minority leader, Mike Villines (R-Clovis), are discussing a constitutional amendment package that could be placed on the November ballot by the Legislature if two-thirds of lawmakers agree.

Using a political tool that sidesteps campaign financing limits, Los Angeles labor unions have raised an unprecedented $2.5 million to elect state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas to the county Board of Supervisors. Before voters head to the polls in June, union officials say they will add an additional $1.5 million to the "independent expenditure committee" pot.