On the Town: Family Promise team slides into home at Dodger Stadium
Organizers with Family Promise of the Verdugos pitched a shutout when they hosted the second annual “Home Run to End Homelessness” gala at the Dodger Stadium Club.
The group serves Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Studio City and North Hollywood by providing temporary shelter and job training to help the homeless return to the workforce and a place to call home.
The mid-March event was truly a home run, with more than 200 attending, said Albert Hernandez, the organization’s executive director.
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The VIP tour of Dodger Stadium was a big hit as guests enjoyed insider access and photo opportunities in the locker room and dugout. The fun continued in the Stadium Club with Dodger Dogs, music, a silent auction and an exclusive view of the sun setting behind the home of the Boys in Blue.
Hernandez emceed the program, which included moving testimonials. Kerlissa Camacho, a Family Promise graduate whose family members recently moved into an apartment of their own, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to keep her family of five together.
A current program participant and mother of a 2-month-old infant movingly told the audience how her love for her son motivated her to find employment within a week of joining the program.
The speakers personified the impact of Family Promise and the program’s success in helping situationally homeless children and their families get back on their feet.
One way to support Family Promise is by joining the 365 Club. For $1 a day, or $30 a month, the donation provides a safety net to local families in crisis. To join, visit familypromiseverdugos.org.
Longtime members honored at luncheon
The Oakmont League of Glendale will honor two longtime members at its “America the Beautiful” luncheon and fashion show on April 16 at the Hilton Hotel in Glendale.
Esther Bowen has given 29 years of service to the league, while Barbara McCullough has served 24 years. Both have served as the organization’s president twice.
McCullough is the league’s first vice president in charge of programs, and she does the job very well. Mostly recently, she organized a talk by Elisha Krauss, 27-year-old co-host of the Morning Answer Show on KRLA-AM 870.
Krauss dresses with a youthful flair, said Oakmont publicity chair Cathy Steel, but her political analyses prove intelligence beyond her years.
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The upcoming luncheon will begin at 10 a.m. with a reception and boutique followed by a luncheon at 11:45 a.m. The fashion show will feature designs by Robert Ellis. Opportunity prizes will include a six-night, seven-day stay in a three-bedroom home on Balboa Island.
Proceeds will go to scholarships for students attending the six area high schools and Glendale Community College. They will also be used for donations to Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale College Center for Students with Disabilities and the Glendale Unified School District’s Scholastic Bowl.
League members also hold two community service projects each year. They provide set-up and clean-up for an annual Thanksgiving dinner at Hillside School in La Cañada Flintridge and cook a Christmas dinner for the Foothill Service Club for the Blind.
Deadline for luncheon reservations and opportunity ticket stubs is Thursday. For information, email oakmontleague@gmail.com or call Judy Mendicina at (818) 212-3525.
The Oakmont League is celebrating 77 years in the community. The club’s president is Nina Ratliff.
NASA engineer speaks at Panhellenic benefit
An engineer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be the speaker for the 68th annual scholarship benefit luncheon to be presented by the Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic on April 16 at the Oakmont Country Club, 3100 Country Club Drive, Glendale.
“We always choose a theme to showcase something from the communities we serve,” said Janice Paul, Panhellenic’s public relations representative.
Glendale resident Kim Westhoff, vice-president and benefit chair, suggested Daniel Zayas, a thermal-systems engineer at JPL. His topic will be “Mars: A Journey of Discovery.”
“We thought this would encourage more of our members to bring husbands and children because of the space programs,” Paul said.
Zayas has been developing thermal-control systems for spacecraft and space-borne instruments since 2008. He is the lead thermal engineer for NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory, which has been scheduled to land on the International Space Station in 2017.
Zayas holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and aerospace engineering, and a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics, all from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $60. Deadline for reservations is today and can be made by emailing GlendalePanBenefit@gmail.com or calling (818) 952-6340. Julie Weller of Glendale is benefit co-chair. The group’s president is Georgine Archer of Burbank.
Society offers new members a Taste of Spain
The Glendale Historical Society will present its annual Taste of Spain membership drive event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 23 at a lovely 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival home. Guests will be treated to food from Frida Mexican Cuisine, sangria, wine and a house tour.
This is the perfect opportunity to introduce friends and neighbors to the society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Glendale’s history and architectural heritage through advocacy, education and outreach.
New members who join by April 18 will be admitted to Taste of Spain for free. The address will be provided after ticket or membership purchase.
For members, admission is $25 per person. Individual and senior/student members may purchase one ticket. Other members may purchase two tickets.
To purchase tickets, visit www.GlendaleHistorical.org or mail a check to TGHS P.O. Box 4173 Glendale, CA 91202 by April 18. For more information, email events@glendalehistorical.org or call (818) 242-7447.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.
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