Guild fashionably ushers in holiday season
The 2010 holiday season was kicked off last week as the La Providencia Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles staged their annual fashion show fundraiser luncheon. Presented under the theme, “The Heart of Christmas,” hundreds of guild members and supporters were welcomed to the Pasadena Convention Center by the event’s chairwoman, Deborah Spang.
“Our devotion and dedication to Childrens Hospital is expressed in many hours of hard work which raises much-needed funds for the Clinical Imaging Research and Technology Project of our beloved hospital,” Spang told the assemblage in her welcoming remarks. “In addition, the new hospital building, scheduled to open in 2011, will continue to provide the finest medical and surgical facilities for seriously ill and injured children.”
Under Spang’s direction, the event began with a heartwarming rendition of “White Christmas” sung by 11-year-old Eileen Garrido, who was born with a serious heart condition. When she was just 5 weeks old, and again when she was 13 months old, Eileen underwent lifesaving heart surgery at Childrens Hospital. Today, as an honor roll student with hopes of matriculating to New York’s prestigious Juilliard School, Eileen is a recording artist who has released two CDs of which the proceeds benefit the Beating Hearts Foundation that she established to help children with cardiovascular illnesses.
Among the notables in attendance were the guild’s 2010-11 officers including President Sharon Terranova, Vice Presidents Judy Gragg and Dolly Monte, Secretary Beverly Jean Davis and Judy LaVerde, who serves as the organization’s publicist. Others who enjoyed the day included Nancy Johnson, Lynn White-Shelby, Bea Wainwright, Ron Spang, Diane Campbell, Doris Palmer, Rosemarie Witten, Lynne Meares, Nancy Korb, Victor Salant, Max Christensen, Brooks Gardner and Kenneth Allen Geller.
An annual harbinger of the holiday season, this event is a deep-rooted tradition with guild members and a highlight of the organization’s numerous fundraising activities. This year’s fashion show and luncheon, hosted by KTTV FOX 11 television personality Dorothy Lucey, included fashions provided by Melrose Alley, Kevan Hall, Carin Holmenas and a special presentation of Tough Cookies Children’s Boutique fashions.
Produced by Ann Gardner, the children’s fashion show included modeling work by young people related to guild members including Scarlett Biondolillo, Kellie Campbell, Paige Cizek, Rioghnach and Saerlaith Dunn, Danielle and Lily Hamel, McKynzee and Makala Kelley, Stella McCall, Hayden Moeck, Jake and Kami Muhlenbruck, Bella and Gwyneth Pouliot, Alexis Rolon, Emily Rose Silak, Isabella Uribe Rezut and Ryan Warren.
This event was the culmination of a year’s worth of planning and work by the fashion show committee included Kris Veatch, Janet Puchlik, Donna Sagona Salant, Mary Christensen, Veronica Chavoor, Marjorie Overstreet, Connie Lawless, Pam Pouliot, Lorelei Kelley, Lisa Murray, Irene Metzger, Pat Maskell, Sue Ann Gordon, Chris Welker, Alicia Katz and Dorothy Austin.
