Bright times ahead for Emerson

By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan  |  May 14, 2007

"Friends" co-creator Kevin Bright, a visiting professor at Emerson College, had a surprise for his alma mater -- a $1 million donation. Bright informed Emerson of his gift just about two hours before Friday's ground breaking ceremony for the Paramount Center, which will bring the renovation of the historic Washington Street theater and add classroom, performance , and dorm space to the college and the community. In her remarks, Emerson president Jacqueline Liebergott said to Bright, who also is a trustee, "I used to believe there is nothing you could do that would surprise me, but you got me on this one. I am truly overwhelmed. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts." The 1976 grad isn't the only alum with TV ties to support his school. "Will & Grace" co-creator Max Mutchnick's support prompted Emerson to name its 185,000-square-foot campus center for the 1987 grad when it opened last year. Mutchnick also donated the set from Will's apartment that was used for the eight seasons of the Emmy-winning show's run to the college, which hopes to display it.

Lawford relishes positive work

Just mention "Ocean's Eleven" and Christopher Lawford cringes. "I made a stupid mistake," says the Kennedy kin whose dad, Rat Packer Peter Lawford, costarred in the original with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. "It's my favorite of all my father's movies, and Steven Soderbergh was kind enough to give me a small role." So what's the problem? Lawford was in the middle of a few other projects, and decided to turn down the Oscar-winning director. "I talked to George Clooney later, and [Soderbergh] was upset with me. . . . It was a huge mistake." But thanks to his 2005 memoir "Symptoms of Withdrawal," Lawford's managed to move on. The well-received book about his recovery from drug addiction has led to a full schedule of public speaking. (On Friday, Lawford was at UMass-Boston talking to the Mass. Council on Compulsive Gambling.) "I never thought my greatest liability would enable me to do positive work," said Lawford, who takes it one day at a time even after 21 years of sobriety. " Addiction's a very tricky illness." A consultant now with Caron treatment centers, Lawford also told us that his famous first cousin, US Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, is doing well with his rehab. "It's been a year since his meltdown," said Lawford, "and Patrick's doing fantastically well."

Garden Club of America rewards green

The cofounders of Tom's of Maine might be best known for their toothpaste but last night Thomas and Katherine Chappell of Kennebunk, Maine, were applauded for spurring the formation of scores of new watershed protection groups across the country, and also for their financial support for preservation of the St. John River, Kennebunk Plains, Katahdin Forest, and other Maine natural areas. Conservation and horticulture were honored by 600 representatives from 197 garden clubs from across the country last night at the annual awards dinner of The Garden Club of America at the Westin Copley Place. Arabella Symington Dane of Center Harbor, N.H., a past president of the American Horticultural Society and the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, was acknowledged for her creation of a 90,000 plant name computerized database. And members voted to contribute $25,000 to clean-up efforts of New Orleans Garden Clubs. "We really do need the rest of the country to help us," said Beverly Church of the Garden Study Club of New Orleans.

Emmy Award-winning TV producer and writer Lawrence O'Donnell had lunch with his brother Michael the other day at Gerard's in Dorchester. The veteran TV writer and political commentator, who is best known for his work on "The West Wing," was back in town to speak to the Norfolk County Bar Association. . . . Cohasset cutie Kate Bosworth and a male friend were spotted riding the train up from New York City. . . . Sox slugger David Ortiz and his former teammate Kevin Millar, now with the Orioles, caught up over a steak dinner at Sonsie on Friday night.

Gloria Estefan had more than a few words of wisdom before she and her husband, Emilio, and U2 guitarist The Edge received honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music on Saturday. But at the commencement concert the night before, it was all fun. The Edge hung out with students afterward , but not before the former Miami Sound Machine frontwoman joined students on stage for a surprise performance of her song "Coming Out of the Dark." At the graduation ceremony at BU's Agganis Arena, The Edge urged students to work with groups because the grads would "shine as you could never shine on your own," the Associated Press reported.

There were enough Patriots players at running back Kevin Faulk's Friday night fund-raiser to run practice drills. While it looked like fun for everyone gathered at 33 Restaurant & Lounge to help No. 33 raise money for United Way programs in Louisiana, it was two days with a purpose. "The world's moved on, but some people down in Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, haven't been able to get their lives back on track," said Faulk before the Friday night dinner. For Saturday's softball game at the Brockton Rox home field, Tedy Bruschi joined teammates Vince Wilfork, Jarvis Green, and Laurence Maroney.

Globe correspondent Carol Stocker contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.