Assistance League Opens Doors on Help for Needy

The Assistance League of Newport-Mesa threw a huge housewarming party Friday for its new community center in Costa Mesa.

“Celebrating Service to Children” was the theme of the dedication ceremony attended by about 400 center supporters. The 19,500-square-foot facility will give the league more space to provide needed services to children.

New Address

“It’s fitting we recognize all the members who made this night possible,” Ann Foreman, league president, told the assembled guests. “This new building is twice as large as our old one.”

League members gave tours of the $3-million center, leading guests through the Children’s Dental Health Center, the new thrift store and consignment shop.

“This is a very important addition to the community because it deals entirely with children,” said Janie Kingsley, event co-chairwoman with Anne Freeman.

League member Kathy Johnson showed off the immaculate dental office, which can serve more than 2,000 children annually.

“We take the kids who slide through the system,” she said. “Their parents don’t have the money to pay for a dentist, but they want this so much.” Dental care is offered on an ability-to-pay basis.

Member P.J. Burke demonstrated the life-size puppets used for the league’s Kids on the Block program that teaches acceptance of children with disabilities.

“They help children understand that everybody hurts,” Burke said, holding up a puppet with dyslexia that wears its shoes on the wrong feet.

Pomp and Circumstance

Guests then gathered upstairs in the new banquet room for the official ribbon-cutting and burying of a time capsule filled with league memorabilia.

Local restaurants set up tables and served their specialties, dishing out clam chowder, fettuccine Alfredo, tortellini and salmon cakes with Chinese chili garlic mayonnaise. For dessert they served cake that looked like children’s building blocks (the official league logo).

Assistance League of Newport-Mesa has 850 members and provides programs to meet the needs of area children whose parents work but cannot afford sufficient day care, dental care, clothing or social guidance. To date the league has raised $1.7 million of its $3 million Capital Campaign Fund goal to buy the building that houses the center.

Among the guests were honorary co-chairmen George and Patty Hoag, master of ceremonies Ralph Rodheim, Joe Anderson, Richard and Lissa Callaghan, Phyllis Baum, Janet DeRuff, Helen Gumbinger, Sandy Hester, Don and Anna Hilliard, Joanne Johnston, Tricia Kerrigan, Lory Kopp, Chan and Marie-France Lefebvre, Bob and Jean Lucas, Jacob Maarse, Laura Oatman, Jean Quinn, Chris and Patti Rose, Dennis and Elsa Rosene, George Seitz, Nancy Wall, Kristi Weber and Charlotte Wood.