H.E.L.P.’s annual Celebrate Summer dinner-dance fundraiser, hosted at the Palos Verdes Golf Club, was a fun opportunity for supporters to dress up for “The Golden Age of Hollywood” theme. The Ralph Scriba Family was the Grand Presenting Sponsor and the Diamond sponsor was Toyota Motor Sales, USA. At the entry, guests encountered life-sized cutouts of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable along the red carpet, and were greeted with complimentary champagne and appetizers to enjoy as they perused the wide assortment of silent auction items.

Gala committee members Yim Hom, Mardy Maehara, Linda Cochrane, Nancy Scott, Chair; and Sally Moton.

Ruby Sponsor Jacky Glass with Jim Kinney.

Each year H.E.L.P. honors several worthy local individuals for their contributions to the South Bay community. The Vanguard Award recipients were Bill & Phyllis Glantz, early charter members of H.E.L.P. and owners of Torrance-based South Bay Accounting Services. They very generously donated the dinner wine for the event from their Eberle Winery in Paso Robles.

Michael Rouse, a Toyota Vice President, received the Inspiration Award, for his longtime support of H.E.L.P., as well as so many other worthy local charities. The Legacy Award was presented to the Honorable George Nakano, former South Bay State Assemblyman and retiring H.E.L.P. Board member, for his lifetime of volunteerism.

Steve Napolitano, Senior Deputy to Sapphire Sponsor, L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, served as the very capable m.c. and auctioneer for the evening’s live auction. Guests were delighted when Pearl Sponsor, Richard Lundquist, President of Continental Development Corp., announced that he would double his donation of a weekend stay at his Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. The ocean-view Maui condo donated by H.E.L.P. Vice Chair and Sapphire sponsors, Brad Baker and his wife, Jennifer, was an equally hot item for bidders.

Pearl Sponsor Richard Lundquist, Continental Development Corp., donated his Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco for two live auction items.

H.E.L.P. Executive Director, Britt Huff, thanked her gala chair, Nancy Scott, and her committee for all of their hard work to make the event a huge success. Assisting Nancy were committee members Mardy Maehara, Sally Moton, Linda Cochrane, Kim Engen, Yim Hom, Hillary Watts, Linda Smith, Ardis Shubin, Cathy Luciano, and Joyce Kochanowski.

Other major sponsors for the evening were: The Canterbury/Episcopal Communities and Services, The Jacqueline Glass family, Drs. Tom & Tricia Paulsen, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center/Torrance, Rod Burkley, of Burkley & Brandlin, LLP; Scott Donnelly, PDM CPA; Jimi Andersen, of Mackenroth Land Company; Linda Elliot, Conover & Grebe, Laura & Juris Kauls, CPAs; Scott Magee, of Magee & Adler Law firm; Sharon Ryan, Dr. Ellen Tarlow, Yim Hom, and Hillary Watts.

Ruby Sponsor and H.E.L.P. Board member, Dr. Tom Paulsen, center, with Dr. Ken Huff, left, and Britt Huff, H.E.L.P. Executive Director

Grand Sponsor, Ralph Scriba, second from left; with honorees, George Nakano, left; Michael Rouse, Phyllis and Bill Glantz, and H.E.L.P. Board Chair, Sharon Ryan.

Virginia Butler and Les Fishman, left, with H.E.L.P. Advisory Board member, Sharon Guthrie; and Pat Parker.

Ian and Sherry Kramer, Continental Development Corp., with Assemblyman David Hadley, Joey Komada, and John Polen, President of Premier Bank of Palos Verdes.