LOS ANGELES—Chris Pine was so glad to receive a $90,000 check on behalf of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) that he skipped the short stairs and instead hopped over the stage. The newest heartthrob, whose mom and sister went to UCLA, then happily posed with the check, one of the many that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) gave away in financial grants to film schools and nonprofit organizations on Tuesday afternoon during its annual installation and grants luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The “Star Trek” actor was among the stars who graced the event, which celebrated the installation of HFPA’s new officers and board members and the presentation of a total of $1,249,000 in grants to film-related charities and educational institutions. Philip “Phil” Berk, the president of the nonprofit group of international journalists that presents the Golden Globe Awards, remarked that the success of the annual awards show has allowed the HFPA to make generous charitable contributions. Actress Rose McGowan, the on-again-off-again fiancée of director Robert Rodriguez, joined Phil in announcing the grants.

Crisis

The HFPA, deeply aware of how California’s financial crisis has reduced funding to the state’s public colleges and universities, voted to donate grants to schools, including California State University (CSU) Long Beach and Northridge.

Evan Rachel Wood and Dylan McDermott, who were at our table, received checks on behalf of CSU Northridge and FilmAid International, respectively. After their separate moments onstage, each of the two actors happily handed the checks to the representatives of these institutions.

Evan, looking beautiful in her upswept hairdo, told us that she was having the time of her life filming her scenes as Louisiana vampire queen Sophie-Anne on HBO’s “True Blood.”

Eva Longoria got the check for the Latino Producers Academy and apologized that she had to leave right after because she had to go back to work on the “Desperate Housewives” set. Hugh Dancy followed Chris and also hopped on the stage to receive the grant on behalf of Outfest. “I wasn’t 100 percent sure I would make that jump over the podium,” admitted the British actor with a grin. None of the stunning actresses in their tottering high heels dared to spring to the stage the way Chris and Hugh did.

Mind-boggling

News stories played up the admission onstage of Warren Beatty, who picked up a check for The Film Foundation, that he misplaced his 1962 Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer trophy and that he requested for a replacement. It boggles our mind to think that 1962 was almost half a century ago. Phil told us that Warren will get his brand new trophy next week. The HFPA has stopped giving that award many years ago.

The Asian sector was represented by Rex Lee of “Entourage,” who expressed gratitude on behalf of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), which actively develops and promotes opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans in the entertainment industry.

During the champagne pre-luncheon reception, the talented Emmy Rossum, who’s in the headlines for her reported split from Justin Siegel, rued that summer is almost over. Anyhow, Emmy, who represented the California Summer School for the Arts Foundation, looked fetching in a short summer white dress.

“Juno” director Jason Reitman, who collected a check for the Los Angeles Conservancy, said he couldn’t wait for us to see “Up in the Air,” his George Clooney comedy-drama entry in the coming Toronto International Film Festival. Kerry Washington, sexy and gorgeous in a pink dress, told us that her “Mother and Child” drama, directed by Rodrigo Garcia, will also have its world premiere in the Canadian festival. She accepted a grant on behalf of Film Independent.

Other stars who delivered acceptance remarks on behalf of the grant recipients were Carla Gugino, who spoke movingly for the Inner-City Arts, and Jordana Brewster, who showed up for the Lollipop Theater Network, which screens films to children confined in hospitals.

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