Foster kids benefit from Rowell’s kindness

“Young and the Restless” star Victoria Rowell will be holding a private screening of the new Denzel Washington movie, “The Antwone Fisher Story,” this Monday at the Fox Studios in Los Angeles.

The event will benefit The Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan, an organization that Rowell founded in 1990 to help bring attention to foster children who may have signifcant educational and emotional needs or are neglected.

Rowell herself grew up in foster care (as did Antwone Fisher, the subject of Washington’s new movie).

Meanwhile, “As the World Turns” star Eileen Fulton will be at Chez Suzette (675B 9th Ave.) on Saturday, Dec. 14 for “A Benefit Evening for Manna.” Fulton will be with The Vincent Martucci Trio, no doubt performing tunes from her new CD, “Moonlight and Mistletoe.” She’ll also be at Don’t Tell Mama on Dec. 20.

Chance encounter leads to a smile

Last Sunday I wrote about “Sopranos” star Steven Schirripa and his book, “A Goomba’s Guide to Life.” Schirripa told me how he was stopped downtown by a man who said the book really cheered him up after his mother died.

After reading the column, John Pace wrote to say he was the guy who told Schirripa that his book had cheered him up. Pace, who’s employed as a hearse driver, says he encountered Schirripa at the end of October when he drove the hearse for the funeral of “Sopranos” co-star Aida Turturro’s father, Dominick.

“My mother had recently passed away and reading Steve’s book made me laugh for the first time since her funeral,” Pace says. “I am also proud to be a Teamster, which Steve lists as a great ‘goomba’ occupation on page 59 of his book.”

Elsewhere on the “Sopranos” front, Vincent Pastore, who played Big Pussy for two seasons (before getting whacked), will help New York Friars Club members John Roland (Ch. 5), Marvin Scott (Ch. 11) and Janice Huff (Ch. 4), among others, hand out Christmas gifts tomorrow.

It’s part of the New York Friars Club Sunshine Committee and they’ll be handing out gifts, dressed as Santa, at the Lowes Astor Plaza Theater (West 44th off Times Square) along with ex-Rangers star Rod Gilbert, Michael Spinks and Cal Ramsey.

This just in . . .

WPLJ’s “Big Show” (Scott Shannon, Todd Pettengill) will air its final show of ’02 from Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla on Friday, Dec. 20 (6-9:30 a.m./95.5 FM) with guests Rob Thomas, John Mayer, Dave Matthews and Holiday Express. And check out Todd’s website (toddscds.com) for holiday treats.

Psychic Char Margolis – who predicted Kelly Ripa’s second pregnancy on “Live with Regis & Kelly” – reunites with Regis Philbin on Monday’s “Wayne Brady Show” (10 a.m./Ch. 7).

Brian Dennehy will guest star on “The Agency,” probably during February sweeps, as a former U.S. President heading up an organization enforcing government elections around the world.

Sunday on MuchMusic (8 p.m.): Teen People’s annual “What’s Next?” concert featuring Avril Lavigne, Dirty Vegas, Sahara Hotnights and more.

I pulled a wrongo – Linda Laundra is the director of Tom Fontana’s “The Day Jack London Got Pinched” at the American Globe Theatre.

If you want tickets to “The View,” go to the ABC website (abc.com) – do not call the show.