The Valley Line: Autry hosts Celebrating Children Gala

The Autry Museum of the West was the site for the Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ 2016 Celebrating Children Gala.

The highlight of the evening was when Renee LaBran, longtime supporter of Hathaway-Sycamores Renée LaBran was presented with the “Celebrating Children Award.”

More than 200 people attended and $190,000 was raised to help fund therapeutic and other crucial support services that are provided each year to thousands of children, youth, young adults and families facing serious life challenges.

Guests at the gala also had the opportunity to meet some of the young adults from Hathaway-Sycamores’ Transitional Independent Living Program.

The evening of the gala, attendees also had a chance to experience the rich cultural tapestry of the American West as they explored the museum galleries after hours.

After the social gathering, guests were seated for a superb dinner catered by Crossroads West.

Renée, whose biggest fan was her husband Malcolm Boyd, graciously accepted the award. She is an active member of the Hathaway-Sycamores Board. She served as board chair from 2001 to 2013 and is a current advisory board member.

Renée said, “I was first drawn to Hathaway-Sycamores because I was struck by the huge disparity between my own boys’ experiences and those of the boys at El Nido, Hathaway-Sycamores’ residential campus.”

Among La Cañadans attending the event were Julie and Dave Battaglia, Amy and Mark Bernhard, Cindy and Mike Budzyn, Bill and Noli Caswell, Patti and Jamie DeRose, Donna Freed, Lisa and Brad Freer, Patty Garfield, Lisa and Gene Goss, Craig Gosselin, Laura and Dana Hobart, Alex and Karl Horne, Carly Home, Linda Reisz and Cliff Klein, Paulette and Bob Lang, Peter Teri, Julianne and Michael Laurenstein, Jennifer La Blanc, Nora and Jack MacKenzie, Diane Moldafsky, Anthony Portantino, Loretta Savery and Alex Black, Annsley and George Strong, Brooke and Geordy Strong, Brenton and Deborah Weirick, Brad and Clarissa Weirick, Nick LaBran, Ron LaBran and Linda Relyea.

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Longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident Nancy Thurston was surprised on her 90th birthday by a “flash mob” of neighbors and friends holding candles in the yard of the home she and her husband built more than 50 years ago.

Coordinating this big surprise was her daughter, Julie. Julie also arranged for Cindi McIntosh-Behr, an accomplished bagpipe player, to pipe the good news making the gathering even more festive.

After the good wishes and singing the birthday song, guests shared cake and caught up on neighborhood news.

Julie had more birthday surprise fun up her sleeves for Nancy because over the weekend the extended family met in San Pedro, where Nancy’s California story began. They visited the old house she grew up in and visited the schools she attended from elementary to high school. At each stop family stories were shared.

Not only were family stories shared, but DNA results too, which revealed that they have a link to Revolutionary War soldiers.

The final stop for the family was a “photo opportunity” at Wayfarers Chapel and at the Korean Bell that is seen in the background of the family portrait.

Among the family gathering were great-nephews Garrett and Erik Arian, their parents Lisa and Richard Arian, niece Cona Greene, grandson Zachary, granddaughter Samantha, son Alan Thurston, nephew’s wife Debi, and nephew Marc Pendergrass.

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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.