Yesterday the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. presented $759,865 in financial grants to charities at its annual luncheon welcoming the installation of new officers. Announcing the grants at the Beverly Hills Hotel were celebs such as Aaron Eckhart and Jon Hamm. Acceptance remarks on behalf of the grants were made by Chris "Ludacris" Bridges (Film Independent Inc.), Rosario Dawson (IFP), Dana Delany (UCLA), Dakota Fanning (California State Summer School Arts Foundation), Chris Messina (Sundance Institute), Elizabeth Pena (National Assn. of Latino Independent Producers) and Rosie Perez (Inner-City Arts).

Re-elected President Jorge Camara introduced the re-elected officers Mike Goodridge, vice president; Serge Rakhlin, executive secretary; and Meher Tatna, treasurer. The new Board of Directors is comprised of Mahfouz Doss (re-elected Chairman), Erkki Kanto, Lilly Lui, Paz Mata, Frances Schoenberger, and Armando Gallo (alternate).

"Despite last January's cancellation of the Annual Golden Globe Awards due to the Writers Guild strike that curtailed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's income, we're delighted to honor our ongoing commitment to support entertainment industry-related film school and non-profit organizations," said Jorge Camara, HFPA President.