Sounds Of Hope For Children
The fourth annual Sounds of Hope for Children, a benefit concert for Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego's Asthma & Immunology Department, will take place on Friday, March 30 at Schubach Aviation in the Premier Jet Building at McClellan-Palomar Airport. Staying true to tradition, this year's event will again feature top-notch talent with a performance by multi-platinum recording artists The Goo Goo Dolls, who recently released their eighth album, "Let Love In." KUSI-TV's Sandra Maas will emcee the evening event, which will include cocktails, dinner, dancing, a live auction, and, of course, a special concert. Proceeds from the invite-only benefit will go to Rady Children's Hospital's Asthma & Immunology Department. Carmel Valley Auxiliary co-chairs, Marilyn Nolen and Judy Rowles, noted that last year there were nearly 4,000 visits to Rady Children's Asthma Clinics, which are offered at the main campus as well as at satellite locations in El Centro, Encinitas, Escondido, and Murrieta. (858/792-5868) — Mia Stefanko

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Jennifer Kagnoff, Barbara Lubin, Felicia Mandelbaum, Nadja Kauder, and Jeri Rubin

Heart And Soul Gala
The 2007 Jewish Family Service Annual Spring Gala, Heart & Soul, takes place on Saturday, March 17 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. Themed Inspirations, the event, chaired by Nadja Kauder, Barbara Lubin, and Felicia Mandelbaum with auction co-chairs Jennifer Kagnoff and Jeri Rubin, will celebrate the accomplishments of the 2007 Mitzvah Award honorees: Ronnie Diamond, the Stone Family Foundation, and the Viterbi Family Foundation. All have shown extraordinary vision, dedication, and leadership to the creation of programs that meet the needs of seniors, teenage mothers, and impoverished Holocaust survivors in our community. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, award ceremony, and entertainment by The Mighty Echoes and mezzo-soprano Susana Poretsky. This year’s gala promises to be bigger and better than last year’s, which attracted over 450 guests and raised over $500,000 for Jewish Family Service’s programs and services. (858/637-3034, www.jfssd.org) — Jane Shiomi

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Kyoto Laureate Symposium
The sixth annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium takes place March 14-16, opening with a benefit gala at the San Diego Marriott and continuing with events at SDSU, UCSD, and USD. The three-day event features the 2006 laureates of the Kyoto Prize, Japan’s highest private award for lifetime achievement created in 1984 by Japan’s nonprofit Inamori Foundation. (San Diego is the only city outside of Japan to host a Kyoto Prize event). At the March 14 gala, titled The Kyoto Prize: Celebrating Outstanding Human Achievement, guests will meet the laureates as well as the local recipients of the 2007-2008 Kyoto Scholarships — a program that encourages the development of San Diego and Tijuana-area high school students. On March 15 at SDSU, Leonard A. Herzenberg, PhD, Advanced Technology Laureate, will present on his development of the Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS), a cornerstone for the advancement of the life sciences. Hirotugu Akaike, PhD, the Basic Sciences Laureate, will speak on March 16 at UCSD about his statistical breakthroughs with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). And famed fashion designer Issey Miyake, the Arts and Philosophy Laureate, will talk about his unique contributions to the field of design on Friday, March 16 at USD. (www.kyotoprize.org) — Jane Shiomi

Save The Date

The Science And Fiction Of Autism: How To Tell The Difference
2/7: A free lecture at the San Diego Natural History Museum presented by UCSD Biological Sciences and the Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at UCSD. (619/255-0203, www.sdnhm.org)

Charity Ball
2/10: This year’s ball, titled Sensational Smiles — Every Child Deserves a Healthy Smile, will benefit Rady Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dental Residency Program. (619/222-5256)

Luminary Renewal At Del Sur
2/11: Patrons of the Lux Art Institute will gather at the Del Sur Ranch House for a celebratory event honoring Lux Visionaries and Lux Luminaries. Special guest Robert Noble, founding president of the San Diego chapter of the National Green Building Council, will expound on sustainable building practices exemplified by the Del Sur Ranch House. (760/436-6611)

Pet First Aid
2/17: The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will offer a four-hour pet first aid certification class that will include suggested treatments for choking, broken bones, shock, poisoning, snakebites, carsickness, temperature illnesses, and more. The cost is $45 per person and includes a handbook and certification. Reservations are required. (619/243-3424)

Brides Against Breast Cancer
2/23-24: The Making Memories Foundation’s biggest national fundraising event in which designer wedding gowns will be on sale to raise money for breast cancer patients. At the Hilton San Diego Resort Mission Bay. (619/231-9977)

A Notable Affair
2/24: San Diego Chamber Orchestra’s black tie event takes place at the La Costa Resort and Spa. KUSI’s Michael Tuck will host the event. Conductor Jung Ho Pak will be present for a meet and greet. Proceeds benefit The Music Outreach Program for Schools. (858/259-0423, www.sdco.org)

Lifting Spirits: Making Hearts Smile
2/24: Casa De Amparo’s fifth annual fundraising event of live comedic entertainment takes place at the Carlsbad Village Theatre. (760/754-5500, ext. 29)

Silver Lining Black Tie Gala
3/17: To celebrate 25 years of sharing the caring, The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers will host a black tie gala at The Hilton Torrey Pines. Donald and Darlene Shiley and Marye Anne Fox, chancellor, UCSD are this year’s honorary chairpersons. The evening also honors founders of The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, community leaders, and supporters. Proceeds benefit The Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers programs and services. $250 per person. (619/543-4700)

National Conflict Resolution Center 19th Annual Peacemaker Awards
3/29: The Peacemaker Awards dinner and ceremony, held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, recognizes individuals and organizations for creative and effective collaborations and solutions to crises and conflict in 2006. (619/238-2400)