The Valley Line: Guild gathers for ‘A Thankful Heart’
It was a gorgeous autumn-like day when 200 women gathered at the Altadena Country Club to support Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles as they shopped at a well-stocked holiday boutique and dined on delicious food.
The event, themed “A Thankful Heart,” was presented by Flintridge Guild of Children’s Hospital. The guild was established in the La Cañada community in 1949.
Up front and center when guests arrived at the club was a long table filled with sweet edibles that were made by members Kathy Kovalcik and Kim Kessler. Guild members donated all of the ingredients that were used in the items so the sale of these festively wrapped sweets meant that 100% of the profit went directly to the hospital.
It was a shopper’s paradise as vendors offered a wide array of things for sale that ranged from gourmet blends of balsamic vinegars and olive oils to fabulous jewelry. A percentage of their sales went to the guild to support CHLA.
Among the vendors offering their wares were Angel’s Nest, Cowgirl Princess, Dale Michele, Declan, Designs by Georgina, Hostess Gifts to Go, I Have That, India Hicks, J.McLaughlin, J. Stern Home/Garden, Joie, Lady Hatton, M. Andonia, One Hope Wine/Coffee and Paper Rabbit.
Georgina Designs donated an exquisite necklace of pearls and diamonds for a highly sought after raffle prize. One very lucky woman won the beautiful necklace, valued at $3,500. For the past four years Georgina Designs has donated one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry for the guild’s benefits.
Before the lunch was served, Juliet Cullen, president of the guild, welcomed the guests and Michelle Sabourin, event chair, introduced the first of two speakers, Dr. Lauren Dunn, a physical therapist at CHLA for more than six years.
Dunn mentioned that she was excited to be at the gathering so that she could share her knowledge and experience about the brave, young children battling various forms of cancer, especially sarcomas, at the hospital.
The second speaker was a mom who told a moving story about her daughter who was successfully treated for cancer at CHLA.
Heading up “The Giving Tree” was Lisa Simone. This project lists toys that are specifically requested by CHLA patients and through the guest donation the toys are purchased and delivered to the hospital. Luncheon guests enthusiastically supported this effort.
Guild members working on this outstanding event included Sandy Ahn, Savonia Angelica, Daryl Baker Pollock, Cathi Beauclair, Sue Berta, Laura Buchanan, Soo Kim Choi, Delia Cotter, Juliet Cullen, Mary Anne DeBriyn, Lisa Dick, Patty Dwyer, Debbie Enterante-Zielinski and Linda Fults.
More hard-working members helping to make this benefit such a success were Melinda Gillman, Sharon Grey, Karen Hopper, Jenny Hull, Kristin Kassabian, Kim Kessler, Leslie Kevorkian, Kathy Kovalcik, Patti Kriste, Melanie Liu, Angela Marchetti, Donna Nickoloff, Debbie Post, Maureen Railsback, Michelle Sabourin, Teresa Salvo, Lisa Simone, Yvonne Slaught, Randy Stanislawski, Michelle Urata and Joellen Yundt.
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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.