Las Madrinas Benefits Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

During the holiday season, Las Madrinas honored twenty-seven 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 on December 21, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Over 780 guests from the greater Los Angeles area, including the debutantes, their families and friends, gathered to celebrate with the members of Las Madrinas. Among the debutantes honored were Brooke Elizabeth Von Der Ahe, daughter of Mrs. Karen Suzanne Von Der Ahe and Mr. Wilfred Frances Von Der Ahe (Manhattan Beach) and Brigid Catherine Breen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Edward Breen (Hermosa Beach). 

Established in 1933 as the first Affiliate Group of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Las Madrinas has supported pediatric medicine for seventy-nine years. In 1939, Las Madrinas began its tradition of honoring families who have demonstrated a commitment to the civic, cultural and philanthropic life of the Los Angeles community 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 has enabled Las Madrinas to complete 7 major research endowments at the hospital since 1988.

This year, Las Madrinas is continuing to honor a $5 million pledge to the Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment. The simulation laboratory provides a controlled environment that recreates real-life patient care settings such as a pediatric hospital room, operating room, emergency department, neonatal delivery room, or even the interior of a helicopter or ambulance.  Within this recreated environment, there is a lifelike but artificial “patient” that is computer wired in order to manifest real and evolving medical conditions. Research and training conducted in the simulation laboratory will enable healthcare professionals to further develop and refine the skills required to provide accurate medical assessments, improve hospital safety and enhance pediatric patient care. 

Las Madrinas’ President, Mrs. Royce Edrice Wilson (Leslie) formally welcomed the guests to the evening of tradition, family, and friends and thanked everyone for joining Las Madrinas with their support of the research programs at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She thanked the Ball Chairman, Mrs. Peter Varner Shoemaker (Elizabeth), and the Debutante Chairman, Mrs. Michael Floyd Wright (Priscilla) for creating the magical evening.

Member husband Mr. Michael Leonard McRoskey 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 provided the entertainment and played the traditional Father-Daughter Waltz that transitioned the party from presentation to celebration.

The Las Madrinas Ball Committee included Assistant Chair Mrs. Jon Warren Newby (Marcie) as well as Mrs. Wayne Martin Brandt (Lisa), Mrs. John Brogan Carls (Jonna), Mrs. Michael Wesley Croft (Lynn), Mrs. Enrique Hernandez, junior (Megan), Mrs. Harry Thomas McMahon (Jacquie), Mrs. John Carroll Morrissey III (Colleen), Mrs. Clark Willard Porter (Katie), Mrs. Steven Bryson Sebastian (Ann) and Mrs. Peter Graham Vaughn (Jeannie).

The Debutante Committee included Assistant Chair Mrs. James Watson Montgomery (Annabel), as well as Mrs. Thomas Edward Breen (Linda), Mrs. Adam Douglas Duncan, junior (Kathleen), Mrs. Edward Sanfern Garlock (Brooke), Mrs. Victor Follen Hawley (Diane), Mrs. Steven Elkins Hinds (Amie), Mrs. Kjell Nicholas Hult (Katie), Mrs. Steven David Kolsky (Missy), Mrs. Bayard Randolph Maybank (Hilary), Mrs. Kevin Roderick McKenzie (Erin), Mrs. Edward Michael McMonigle (Maggie), Mrs. Charles Phillips Meister (Lawry), Mrs. John Stephen Onderdonk (Katrina), Mrs. William Scott Sanford lll (Carolyn), Mrs. Arthur Hammel Shafer (Camilla), and Mrs. Harlan Holt Thompson (Alison). 

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been named the best children’s hospital in California and among the best in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious US 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. The 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.