The Valley Line: Las Candelas gears up for March fundraiser
We are launched firmly into our new year, however community members still seem to be hibernating. Soon they’ll be out and about again, mingling at local events.
January’s first full moon, called “The Full Wolf Moon” peeked from behind the gray clouds the other night. According to ancient Native American tradition, it was called this because in the Northeast, snow covered the ground, the temperatures were freezing and the wolves would band together and bay at the moon.
I do have one December party to tell you about before we begin next week to report about our 2017 social gatherings.
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A private club in Pasadena was the setting for a lovely gathering when Las Candelas members, spouses and friends celebrated the holidays with a formal dinner.
The club was beautifully decorated and guests wore their holiday best for the event. After a one-hour reception, a seasonal three-course dinner consisting of butternut squash soup, tenderloin of beef and filet of salmon followed by sticky toffee pudding, was enjoyed by more than 50 attendees.
Ellyn Semler, a La Cañada Flintridge resident and president of Las Candelas, thanked the organization’s members for the many philanthropic projects they had completed during 2016, including providing monthly educational programs for residential students at Hathaway-Sycamores in Altadena and Hillsides in Pasadena, and most recently, the wrapping of hundreds of Christmas presents for the young clients of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Glendale.
Las Candelas, whose mission is “to give volunteer service and financial assistance to help improve the lives of children and youth in vulnerable situations and to support awareness of their mental health needs,” was organized in 1953 and incorporated in 1955.
The club members are gearing up for their biennial fundraiser, a luncheon/fashion show in support of Las Candelas’ philanthropic programs and projects.
The event will take place on Monday, March 6, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. Themed “Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” the event will include a reception and boutique at 10 a.m., followed by the luncheon and fashion show at 11:45 a.m. that will feature clothing by designer Lourdes Chavez.
Opportunity and special drawing prizes include a $3,000 South Coast Plaza shopping extravaganza and a three-night getaway at the Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs. Chairing the event this year are members JC Byer and Pattie McCormick, who expect more than 600 guests to attend. For more information on the luncheon, contact Cathy Keen at (818) 240-2442.
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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.