‘Healthy Children’ event sees festive success
“A Celebration for Healthy Children” was the theme for a first decade for Glendale Healthy Kids. Members and guests honored its “First Decade” on Saturday (October 1) at Palate Food + Wine. About 300 supporters gathered to sip, sup and mingle al fresco. The parking lot behind the restaurant was transformed into a festive reception with flowers, balloons, tents and tiny tables for consuming the rich hors d’oeuvres served by white-gloved servers. A favorite appetizer was melon gazpacho.
A silent auction and band provided the entertainment right before six past presidents of the past decade were honored. From 1995 to 2002, the following presidents received certificates signed by local politicos: Pat Liddell, Susan Hunt, James Isenman, Dr. Edith Gevorgian, Albert Abkarian and Mary Ann Plumley. Glendale Health Kids’ Executive Director Camille Levee presided over the ceremony. Gregory Zarian handled emcee duties.
Among planning committee members/Glendale residents in attendance were Chair Lusine Yarian, Board President Allyn Heck and Monica Sierra. Also present were Immediate Past President Elizabeth Manasserian, husband Greg Manasserian and 22-year-old son Christopher Manasserian.
Glendale VIPs included Mayor Laura Friedman and husband Guillaume Lemoine, Congressman Adam Schiff, Glendale Schools’ Board President Joylene Wagner, Kathy Lefkovits and husband Bill Lefkovits, and Glendale Arts’ Elissa Glickman.
Also spotted was Glendale Community College’s new Chief of Police Gary Montecuollo. Massage Envy spa owner Helen McDonagh and husband Andrew Garsten were celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary. Their wedding reception was held in the same location as Palate at the old Cinnabar Restaurant. McDonagh is also president of the Downtown Merchants’ Association.
After the past-presidents’ ceremony, a live auction of five items were up for grabs. Going for a steal at $200 was a visit to ABC-TV’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” followed by a dinner for two at Gennaro’s Ristorante. Added to the auction were opportunities to spend $500 to ensure a dental exam, cleaning and sealant for six children, supporting Glendale Health Kids’ vision that every Glendale child has optimal health.
Hungry members and their guests were then ushered into Palate’s dining room for a dinner of braised beef short ribs and a dessert of chocolate pudding topped by crème fraiche.
Expected proceeds from the $250-per-person price of admission and the silent and live auctions are $100,000.
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The goal is to renovate Glendale Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room. To that end, the hospital’s 24th annual “Wine and Roses” celebration was held on Sunday (Oct. 2) in the patio fronting the hospital entrance. Members of the Glendale Memorial Health Foundation invited members and guests to enjoy the evening’s “Tastes from the Harvest.” A record number of 800 supporters mingled, danced and indulged in food from restaurant booths, featuring artisan food from a smattering of Southern California’s finest chefs. Dining was accompanied by wines from around the world.
Event Co-Chairs Larry Cimmarusti and Haig Youredjian and their planning committee created the reception, silent auction and cocktails preceding dinner. Master of Ceremonies Mark Wallgren of KOST 103.5 FM never allowed the festivities to lag.
Black-tied Glendale residents willing to pony up $350 per person included Cimmarusti’s family, wife Amalia Cimmarusti, daughter Paula Cimmarusti, sister Loretta Cimmarusti-Chicoine and her husband Richard Chicoine. Glendale VIPs included Mayor Laura Friedman, husband Guillaume Lemoine, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins and wife Abigail Scoggins.
Dancing under the stars to the music of Splash topped off the evening.
Last year, the hospital’s Emergency Room treated 31,000 patients regardless of their ability to pay. Charity care amounting to $7,018,085 was provided to 1,100 patients. A newly renovated Emergency Room will have the capacity to serve even more patients.
Ruth Sowby may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.