PARTY LINES : YOUTHS BENEFIT FROM AN ARRESTING EVENING.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

Usually when the police arrive at a party, the fun's over.

They were invited guests and provided much of the entertainment at the New Directions for Youth Tribute Dinner at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.

Among the men-with-a-badge at the splashy black-tie gala Oct. 3 was LAPD Sgt. Philander Butler, who sang the national anthem, and the city's new Police Chief Bernard Parks, who helped former World Boxing Champion Sugar Ray Leonard present awards to five men for their service to youth.

The Corporate Sponsorship Award was awarded to Larry T. Beasley, publisher of the Daily News of Los Angeles, who accepted on behalf of the entire Daily News staff, while Jeffrey Glassman, partner in the law firm of Riordan & McKinzie, received the Humanitarian Award, and Tom Shapiro, owner of Academy Tent & Canvas, accepted the William Shatner Partners With Youth Award in recognition of his work with youth that started when he was a Little League coach.

Celebs shined, too. Actor Eric Roberts, who's starring in the new ABC series ``C-16,'' got the Artistic Integrity Award, which he clutched while explaining that he was sorry he had to ``eat and run'' because he was filming an episode that night. And Billy Blanks, a personal trainer to actors and athletes, received the Champion's Award for being a great role model to other athletes. After guests wolfed down steak, salmon and lemon tarts, a number of trips and gifts were auctioned. Then Leonard and Blanks offered themselves for a boxing lesson and workout, which sold for $2,250. By the time we'd danced the last dance of the evening, more than $100,000 was raised to help at-risk youth improve their lives and their communities.

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9 Photos

Photo: (1) Schmoozing at the grand opening party of the new Porter Valley Country Club clubhouse in Northridge are chairwomen Jeannie Piekunka, Pixie Roll and Betty Bendix.

(2) Celebrating at Marlborough School's fund-raiser for its New Era of Excellence campaign at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles are event chairwomen Irion DeRouen of Studio City, left, and Jann McCord of Encino, right, with honorary chairman Neil Simon and ``3rd Rock From the Sun'' star John Lithgow, who entertained the crowd with readings from Simon's plays. The campaign raised $10 million for the private girls' school, which was founded in 1889.

(3) Matisse the dog joins fellow cast members Hillary Tuck, left, Barbara Alyn Woods, Pete Scolari and Thomas Dekker at the world premiere party for their new Disney series, ``Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.''

(4) Getting the first peek at the Assistance League of Southern California's Design House '97 are Sandy and Daniel Hubert of Sherman Oaks, left, and Wendy Fleming of Encino. The home, decorated by 24 local designers, is open for tours through Nov. 2. For tickets, call [phone].

(5) Barbara Sands, left, and Alice Backes chat at the Actors and Others for Animals luncheon and fashion show at Universal Hilton Hotel. More than 500 guests helped raise $100,000 for ongoing projects to benefit pets and people in the area.

(6) Actress Jo Anne Worley, left, sells raffle tickets to guest Maiga Wolf during Actors and Others for Animals benefit fashion show with celebrity models Lea Thompson, Loni Anderson and Pamela Bach, honorary event chairwoman and wife of David Hasselhoff.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

(7) Honoree Jeff Glassman, left, chats with Amy Ross of North Hollywood and Gary Wishik of Studio City at the New Directions for Youth gala at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

(8) Congratulating Tom Shapiro, left, on his William Shatner Partners With Youth service award are friends Fran Morris and Richard Rosman at the New Directions for Youth party.

(9) Partygoers at the New Directions awards dinner included Chris Busby, left, and Roger Hardy, who came to support co-worker Tom Shapiro.

Terri Thuente/Daily News