Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Auxiliary Installation Luncheon

There was lots of love at Old Ranch Country Club, on June 19, 2012, at the annual installation lunch of the MCHLBA, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Auxiliary.  Members and guests enjoyed a meal of spinach and bacon salad, tri tip and brownies, seated at tables decorated in coral and white with matching gerber daisy bouquets provided by Bixby Knolls Florists. 

“Do it with love “was the theme of the day when Auxiliary outgoing President Margie Penny surrendered her gavel to her best friend and new President Linda Dilday.   The ladies were surrounded by their loving spouses, Jim Penny and Decatur Dilday and the Dilday children and grandchildren.  Daughter Nicole Dilday Cohen mentioned her mother’s loving and caring heart while granddaughter Adison Cohen added a note about her patience.

“Caring Hearts Surround Me”, is Linda Dilday’s mantra for 2012.  She will be assisted in reaching the MCHLBA goal of raising money for hospitalized children by her able Board of Directors, Roxie Hause, Annette Daniels, Pam Duran, Glenda Wycoff, Jeanette Gillies, Mary Linn Coleman, Mary McClung and Jane Nielsen.

MCHLBA was originally named Children’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was founded at Seaside Memorial Hospital in 1946, as the nearest children’s hospital was in LA.  At that time they adopted and still retain the slogan “Have a Heart and Help a Child” with the goal of aiding the Children’s Hospital.  Over the years over 12 million dollars have been donated to the hospital with lots of love and hard work from the volunteers.  Money is raised for Children’s Hospital by putting on an annual Designer Fashion Show and Silent Auction in February, two vendor Fairs in Spring and Fall and operating two gift shops, off of the main lobby and in the Children’s Pavilion.

At the Installation Lunch outgoing president Margie Penny presented, Rishi Bhargava, MD with a check for $50,000 for the emergency pediatric department in Miller Children’s Hospital and a check for a $192,000 to Jim Normandin for the MCHLBA Benevolence.   Margie also announced that the Auxiliary donated scrapbooks aimed at patients and siblings in all areas of the hospital.  During Margie’s tenure as President a new gift shop was opened, children’s playroom was given to the new hospital and Zoll Defibrillator X series were purchased for 3 transport isolettes.

Liz Minor was honored for her 50 years of continuous volunteer work with MCHLBA.  New members, Linda Simecek, Marisol Gutierrez, Barbara Wells, Jessica Bowman and returning member Kathleen Costello-Pitts were also recognized and hope to match her verve.

Seen at the Scene, JoAnn Barlow, Carol England, Royleen Holmes, Mary May, Olga Megdal, Joyce Mikula, Mary Ward, Betty Patterson, Marilyn Sanders, Vicki Firestone and Bernie Stearns.

Hospital staff, Melvin Marks MD, Sally Lane, Debbie Fingerhut, Gloria Villalobos, Camille Kennedy and Brett Beck also attended the affair.

If you would like to volunteer with the Auxiliary contact Roxie Hause, 562 307 1248 or roxiehause@gmail.com.

By Collette Anderson