Organizations
Juniors High Tea benefits children
The La Crescenta Woman’s Club Juniors had their annual elegant High Tea on May 8 to benefit Operation Smiles, a nonprofit medical group that serves children who were born with facial deformities such as cleft palates.
A chocolate fountain, with a variety of fruits for dipping, and traditional English sandwiches were among the tasty offerings. New member Wendy Smith, a professional singer, crooned a few tunes while guests were arriving.
A talk was given about the organization and the patients they help by Ruth Warner, curator (president) of the Juniors. More than 200,000 babies are born with this condition around the world each year. The problem is not only physical; the young ones suffer shunning and rejection. Before and after pictures almost obviated the need for verbal explanation. Some had what appeared to be a minor cleft, but the severe condition of some of the others makes them unable to eat, to speak, socialize or smile — hence the name of the organization.
In one photo, a child’s left eye was near the edge of his left lip; in the after photo, surgery had left no evidence that his face was ever anything but adorable.
The profits from the tea will provide three children with operations, and a better life than they would have had otherwise.
Teachers to present financial awards
The California Retired Teachers Assn., Glendale-Foothill Division, will present a $2,000 scholarship to three students enrolled at Glendale Community College who plan to pursue a teaching program at a four-year college next fall. This presentation be at noon on June 7 at the Elks Lodge, 120 Colorado St., Glendale.
Corinne Aveni, Kenzie Gerr and Dalin Prasert will receive the scholarships.
In another program conducted by the association, two teachers in the Glendale Unified District were each given a grant of $500 to be used for an educational project to be conducted in their classroom.
April Faieta, a fifth-grade teacher at Mark Keppel Elementary School, and Elwing Gonzalez, eighth-grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School, received their grants recently.
The luncheon cost is $12, and reservations can be made at (818) 246-3205. Deadline for reservations is Thursday.
Red Cross receives $1,500 from club
The La Crescenta Woman’s Club on May 19 presented a check for $1,500 to Ron Farina, chapter executive officer of the American Red Cross Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter, as recognition and thanks for the aid it supplied to the foothills area during the Station Fire and its aftermath in 2009 and 2010.
This donation was made possible by the successful fashion show presented by the woman’s club in March, chaired by Cindy Charles and Debbie Cant.
Farina spoke of how the Red Cross is prepared to leap into action for any emergency befalling the Crescenta Valley. He explained where the emergency materials are stored around the valley.
The membership has elected co-presidents for the coming year. Incoming President Carol Huntwork has been house chair for the past 10 years, and has seen the club through a demanding period of remodeling and redecorating for the past three years. Her co-president will be Genny Bundick, who has been philanthropy chair for the last five years.
Outgoing President Rita Even is the only club president to have held that office for five consecutive years in the almost 100 years of its existence. She will assume the position of first vice president/dean, a liaison post between the La Crescenta club and its district office.
Other new officers include Deanna Alfeld, Daryl Baker-Pollack, Carol Bennedetti, Cindy Charles, Danette Erickson, Jeanne Garibaldi, Marianne Jennings, Gloria Lee, Jeanne Long, Dea McCrory, Florence Virgalitto and Marilyn Wright.
Association honors Day of the Teacher
The California Retired Teachers Assn., Glendale-Foothill Division 11, with more than 500 members, celebrated with the Burbank, Glendale and La Cañada school districts the traditional Day of the Teacher on May 12.
The association contacted each school to encourage them to honor all educational employees with the theme “California Teachers: Creating a Brighter Future.” The mayor of Glendale proclaimed May 12 as the Day of the Teacher in Glendale.
Association President Linda Blackwell and Barbara Colby, retired Glendale teacher, presented the proclamation to the Glendale Board of Education on May 4. Blackwell and Bea Wojtyla addressed the Burbank Board of Education to express recognition of Burbank teachers.
The Day of the Teacher arose out of legislation co-sponsored by California Teachers Assn. and the Assn. of Mexican American Educators. It was adopted in 1982 as Senate Bill 1546 written by Sen. Joseph Montoya (D-El Monte). California patterned its celebration after the traditional festivities observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Autry docents to lead museum tours
The Autry National Center Museum of the American West is offering a docent class starting June 7 with graduation on Sept. 13.
Docent training classes meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays. Training includes classes in western history and art and art history.
Autry docents conduct tours of schoolchildren Tuesday through Friday.
Docent responsibilities include providing weekly tours, maintaining active membership in the museum and participating in continuing education both at the museum and throughout the region.
Fee is $65 (includes membership and educational materials). E-mail Susan DiCato at sdicato@theautry.org or call (323) 667-2000, Ext. 237.