Guild gathers for fashionable holiday kickoff
It has been an annual harbinger of the holiday season — a tradition that separates the first 10 months of a year from the festivities and family gatherings of its last eight weeks. As they have done for many years since their 1947 establishment, the women of the La Providencia Guild of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles once again presented their fall boutique, fashion show and luncheon fundraiser this past week at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Presented under the theme, A Royal Affair, more than 350 guild members and supporters were welcomed by the event’s chairwoman, Judy LaVerde, and the organization’s president, Judy Gragg, who thanked the assemblage for their continued support of the Los Angeles-based pediatric hospital. “We could not fulfill our goals of supporting Children’s Hospital without you,” Gragg said. “You all have our deepest of heartfelt gratitude.”
The day’s main event, a fashion show emceed by dancer Rudy Hernandez and coordinated by Christine Ritchie, included a special appearance by guild family members Hayden Ranshaw, Joshua Terranova, Neorah Davis and Emily Silah.
Among those who have worked all year long to ensure the success of this event were the committee composed of Veronica Chavoor, Beverly Jean Davies-Swaim, Glenda Jones, Maria Kerrigan, Connie Lawless, Pat Maskell, Shari Pearce, Sharon Ranshaw, Ann Schwabb, Malena Tappen and Lynn White Shelby. Others who played a role included Dorothy Austin, Charles Chavoor, Mary Christensen, Janet Jack, Alicia Katz, Lorelei Kelley, Lynn Koon, John Lawless, Judy Pierce, Tish Sellers, Janice Shafer, Marje Simay, Teri Sumner, Kris Veatch and Rosemarie Witten.
Special guests who enjoyed the afternoon fundraiser included Children’s Hospital Associates and Affiliates Chairwoman Bonnie McClure and Director Suzanne Lapis, Diane Campbell, the mother of former Mayor Todd Campbell, who was joined my her daughter-in-law, Lori Nasi-Campbell, and Melissa Bacelar, who founded the Poopie Foundation, a Los Angeles-based rescue, rehab and education center dedicated to taking in homeless, neglected and abused animals.
Other notables in attendance included Joan Chandler, Chris Gargaro, Doris Palmer, Deborah Spang, Kimberly Biondolillo, Kami Muhlenbruck, Dolly Monte, Nancy Johnson, Janice Shafer, Gina Chantland, Janel Clausen and Shannon Mullens.
