H.E.L.P. Goes Wild Fundraising for Seniors

This year H.E.L.P. celebrated its annual fundraiser with a Wild, Wild West theme, which brought out many fun costumes. Guests were greeted at the door with complimentary champagne and appetizers, and the opportunity to browse through the many wonderful silent auction baskets beautifully presented by Gala Chair, Nancy Scott, and her committee.

H.E.L.P. Board Chair, Dr. Tom Paulsen, M.D. welcomed guests in to dinner and introduced other Board members. Executive Director, Britt Huff, Ph.D., introduced the event sponsors, beginning with Grand Presenting Sponsor the Ralph Scriba Family Fund. Ralph Scriba is a former H.E.L.P. honoree and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from H.E.L.P. for his longtime, generous support of H.E.L.P.’s vital programs and services for seniors.

Other major sponsors at the Sapphire level were: Jacky Glass, Opus Bank, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Jennifer and Brad Baker, H.E.L.P. Board Vice Chair, of Baker, Burton, and Lundy law firm. Ruby Sponsors were: Continental Development Corp., Michael & Honeya Barth, Farmers & Merchant Trust Company/Torrance; Johannessen Trading Company, Drs. Tom and Tricia Paulsen, Premier Business Bank of Palos Verdes, and H.E.L.P. Board and Gala Committee member, Yim Hom and her husband, Dr. Simon Lo. (Scroll down for a full list of other sponsors).

Honorees for the evening were Sherry Kramer, of Continental Development Corporation, and Steve Napolitano, City Councilman from Manhattan Beach. Sherry Kramer received the Vanguard Award, which is given to a person or organization that has been supportive of H.E.L.P.  and its work with seniors, and who has made a positive impact on their community through the support of charities and non-profits, and by encouraging volunteerism and donations. Sherry Kramer has been the Community Affairs Director for Continental Development Corporation, headquartered in El Segundo, since 2006.

She has served as Chair of the Board of the Chambers of Commerce in the cities of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance; and served on the Board of the Palos Verdes Chamber, and continues as its Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundations of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance. In addition she has served on the Board of Trustees of Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the Torrance Cultural Arts Center Foundation, the South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation, and California State University, Long Beach.

Steve Napolitano received the H.E.L.P. Inspiration Award, which is given to a person who has set an example for the community through their community service, donations, and support. Steve has been a longtime public servant in the South Bay. He is presently serving on the Manhattan City Council as Mayor Pro Tem. He previously was elected to the City Council in 1992 at the age of 26, the youngest person ever elected to the Manhattan Beach City Council. He served as Mayor and Councilmember, and was overwhelmingly reelected in 1997 and 2001 before being termed out in 2005.  From 2005 to 2016 Steve represented LA County Supervisor Knabe in eight South Bay communities. Steve has been a longtime supporter of H.E.L.P. and for the last six years has served as the volunteer auctioneer for H.E.L.P.’s live auction at our annual fundraiser gala.

All of us at H.E.L.P. are grateful for our generous supporters. We especially want to recognize the many hours volunteered by our gala committee members. Assisting Nancy Scott were committee chairs Linda Cochrane, Kim Engen, Yim Hom, Mardy Maehara, Sally Moton, Linda Smith, & Britt Huff. Other committee members were Barbara Carlson, Kathleen Davis, Joyce Kochanowski, Cathy Luciano, Linda Moriwaki, Ardis Shubin, Hillary Watts, and Torrance Woman’s Club representatives.

H.E.L.P. staff member Ardis Shubin donated the raffle prize, a 4-day stay in Breckenridge, Colorado. The package included airfare donated by former H.E.L.P.  Board chair, Sharon Ryan.

H.E.L.P. Vice Chair, Brad Baker, gallantly stepped up as auctioneer for the live charity auction, which featured wonderful donated vacation packages such as a Mammoth ski condo, Big Bear townhouse, an overnight staycation at the Terranea Resort, a week at Brad’s Maui condo, and a weekend at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco, donated by Richard and Melanie Lundquist. Lively bidding resulted in generous funds being raised in support of H.E.L.P. s programs and services for seniors. Thank you to all who attended and supported the H.E.L.P. gala.

*Scroll down for photos of the gala

H.E.L.P. thanks our wonderful sponsors and donors to this event.  They include:

 

Grand Sponsor

The Scriba Family

Pearl Sponsors

Ray & Anne Destabelle, Laura & Juris Kauls, Robert & Hillary Watts,

Wendy & Allen Bond – Guaranty Escrow, Inc., Grant Niman – Niman & Associates,

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center,

The Canterbury Episcopal Communities & Services,

Torrance Memorial Foundation

Ruby Sponsors

Michael & Honeya Barth, Yim Hom & Dr. Simon Lo, Drs. Thomas & Patricia Paulsen,

Richard & Melanie Lundquist – Continental Development Corporation,

Jeff Hahn – Farmers & Merchants Trust Company,

Johannessen Trading Company,

Debbie Richardson – Premier Business Bank.

Sapphire Sponsors

The Jacqueline Glass Family,

Brad & Jennifer Baker – Baker, Burton and Lundy LLP, ,

1. A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Opus Bank

Underwriters

Michael & Honeya Barth, Donna & Dennis Chock, Laura Kauls,

Nancy Scott, Ardis Shubin, Johannessen Trading Company,

Sharon Ryan – An Uncommon Journey

Donors

Gerry Amarel, Jackie & Robert Bacharach,

Sibylle Grebe – Conover & Grebe LLP., Doris Herzog,

Dr. Rosemary Leake, Stephen & Laurie Love,

Bruce & Jean McPheeters, Robert & Pamela Schachter,

Michael Swanson, Sid & Fran Wielin

We also thank all of the following individuals and businesses who donated wonderful gifts for our silent auction:

INDIVIDUALS

Judy & David Adishian, Brad & Jennifer Baker, Barbara Carlson,Scott Donnelly, John Hendricks,

Yim Hom, Ken Klier,Jordan & Caren Libit, Mardy Maehara, Sally Matsumoto, Margaret Mohr,

Sally Moton, Debbie Richardson, Nancy Scott, Ardis Shubin, Kathy Swank,

BUSINESSES

Absolution Brewing Company, Aquarium of the Pacific, AMUSE Music Center, Asaka Sushi & Grill, Battleship Iowa, Bay Club Rolling Hills, Black Angus, Bonello’s Pizza, Bristol Farms, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Chef Melba’s Bistro, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Chipotle Mexican Grill , Claydon Jewelers, CMS Design Portraiture, The Corner Bakery – Redondo Beach, Costco, Crabtree & Evelyn, Creative Cuts Int’l, Dawnell Park DS,  Inc, Doubletree Torrance, Dr Phil Show, Energy Muse, Equinox, Eric Lintermans, Fresh Brothers, Gable House Bowl, Giorgio’s, Giulliano’s Delicatessen, Hennessey’s, Hof’s Hut, Honey Baked Ham, In-N-Out Burgers, La Capilla Mexican Restaurant, La Mirada Theatre, Mimi’s Restaurant, Miss Nails, Miyako Hybrid Hotel, Monkish Brewery, Norm’s Restaurants, Original Red Onion, Palos Verdes Golf Club, Palos Verdes Performing Arts, Parker’s Lighthouse, Ports O’Call Restaurant, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, Ralphs Market, Red Car Brewery, Rubio’s Coastal Grill, Santa Anita Park, Scholb Craft Brewery, Spirit Cruises, Starbucks, Subway, Sushi Delight, The Cheesecake Factory, The Comedy & Magic Club, The Kettle, The Wine Shoppe, Tikkun Skin Care, Torrance Bakery, Torrance Flower Shop, Trader Joes-Torrance, Trump National Golf Club, Yorkshire Square Brewery

With a special thank you to our live auction and raffle donors:

Wayne Judah – Admiral Risty, Jennifer & Brad Baler, Allen & Wendy Bond, BJ’s Restaurant, Marge Bennetts – Beach House Hermosa Hotel, Richard Lundquist and Sherry Kramer – Continental Development Corporation, Crème De La Crepe, Elephant Bar, Mardy Maehara, Kandee Anderson – Torrance-Redondo Marriott, Chef Melba, David & Judith Adashian – Nantucket Crossing, Norm & Cindy Miller, Sharon Ryan – An Uncommon Journey, Nancy Scott, Ardis Shubin, Robert & Kathy Swank, Terri Haack – Terranea Resort