Las Madrinas, Palisadians Benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

D0uring the holiday season, Las Madrinas honored 35 Southern California families and their daughters for their service to the Southern California community and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at the annual Las Madrinas Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Over 900 guests from the greater Los Angeles area, including the debutantes, their families and friends, gathered to celebrate with the members of Las Madrinas.

Among those honored were six debutantes from Pacific Palisades, including Lauren Elizabeth Beaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John William Beaver; Anne Fraser Hartmann Hill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hill; Anne Elizabeth McRoskey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick James McRoskey; Caitlan Boyd Benell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Charles Benell; Mary Shea Morrissey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Carroll Morrissey III; and Erin Colleen Hinds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Desmond Joseph Hinds, junior.

Las Madrinas’ President, Mrs. Victor Follen Hawley (Diane), formally welcomed the families and guests to this evening of tradition and thanked everyone for joining Las Madrinas with their support of the research programs at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She spoke of the current project, the Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment, and then recognized the Ball Chairman, Mrs. Jonathan Tebbetts Williamson (Shannon), and the Debutante Chairman, Mrs. Charles Ward Cox II (Sarah), for creating the magical evening.

Member husband Mr. Gary Allen Darnell announced the Debutantes, while member husband Mr. David Thomas Balfour served as Director of Presentation. Patterson’s Topiaries, Pots and Teas designed the floral décor. The Wayne Foster Orchestra accompanied the Presentation of the Debutantes and played the traditional Father-Daughter waltz that transitioned the party from presentation to celebration.

Las Madrinas was established in 1933 as the first Affiliate Group of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and has been supporting pediatric medicine for 80 years. Since 1939, Las Madrinas has honored families who have demonstrated a commitment to the civic, cultural, and philanthropic life of Southern California by presenting their daughters at the annual Las Madrinas Ball.

Donations made in honor of the young women, together with the annual support of Las Madrinas members and friends, have enabled Las Madrinas to complete eight major projects at the hospital since 1988, including seven research endowments and a capital project on the Cardiovascular Floor.

This year Las Madrinas is continuing to honor a $5 million dollar pledge for its eighth endowment, the Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment.

Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been named the best children’s hospital in California and among the top five in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll. Children’s Hospital is home to The Saban Research Institute, one of the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States.

Children’s Hospital is also one of America’s premier teaching hospitals through its affiliation since 1932 with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.