1. home and garden

The Newsletter of Children’s Hospital Branches, Inc.
TWIGS
Summer - Fall 2014
Published quarterly by CHB, Inc.
@ CHORI
5700 Martin Luther King, Jr. T-2
Oakland, CA 94609-1673
(510) 428-3355 / (510) 597-7153 - fax
We gathered at the lovely Orinda Country Club for our Branches
Annual Recognition luncheon and to celebrate the Branches’ 100th
birthday. We were also there to spotlight and
salute our Outstanding Branch Volunteers of
Betty Jo Olson..............................President
the Year and to honor the recipient of our Alice
Marilyn Zecher.............................Garden
Bullard Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cyndi Santaella...........................Teak
Here is an alphabetical rundown of our sucDebbie Civello..............................Rowan
cessful events, starting with Acorn Branch.
Cece Werson, Parliamentarian....Hawthorne
Last April, Acorn held a most entertaining
Sheila Challey..............................Rowan
and exciting “Day-at-the-Races.” In October
Joan Deuel..................................Hill
the members held their popular and delicious
Wendy Dunn................................Lombardy
annual “Italian Dinner” lovingly prepared by
Jeannie Graham..........................Garden
members’ husbands.
Kristina Smith..............................Rowan
Blossom Garden started 2013 down in
Lucy Talbot...................................Hill
numbers and looking toward a year of reorganization and renewal.
Lynne Wilson...............................Acorn
The group finished December holding a fun and successful Winter
Party, with a healthy membership of 23 – and with other new membership possibilities on the horizon – exceeding all expectations!
Bud, our only junior Branch, consisting entirely of high school girls, put together another beautiful teen fashion show, held in May at Alameda’s Grand Pavilion.
Next is Cacao which held its popular Bridge/Whist luncheon, also in May, at the Emeryville Hilton Garden
Inn and also featured a very lively live auction. In September was its Day-at-the-Races. Emeritus, but still active, Cedar, Jr. Branch member, Mary Davis, is our Calendar Lady – taking orders from literally all over the
nation!
Chinquapin members are involved in running our gorgeous, thriving Bambino Thrift Shop under the capable
supervision of Carol Maes. They had another fantastic year!
Also Emeritus, our Coral Branch ladies have been our “busy bees” for years, knitting adorable caps for our
hospital “preemies” and gorgeous blankets for all children. Kevin Hughes, our good friend from the Foundation, has worked it out with the hospital gift shop to let these talented ladies have space in a corner of the shop
to display and sell their hand-crafted treasures. Proceeds will go to the NICU!
Hill closes our fundraising year in style with its magnificent debutante Winter Ball – always beautifully presented in lavish surroundings, and always a huge success!
Live Oak starts off the New Year with its famous Archery shoot. In the Fall, it puts on a CHAMP’s Miniature
Show & Sale; then in November its dinner at the Hotel Mac followed by a performance at the Masquers’ Playhouse. This past year’s show was “A Year With Frog & Toad”.
Lombardy gave us a fantastic evening event at the Orinda Country Club in March featuring an elegant “Kate
Spade New York” fashion show and delicious lite dinner options.
Rowan members work all year on their Fall “Gala des Enfants”, this past year titled An Enchanted Evening
– the Centennial Celebration of CHO, held at the Blackhawk Behring Auto Museum. In Spring, we can hardly
wait to attend their wonderful Shopping Spree and luncheon. Their member, and Board member, Kristina
Smith was honored this past year with the Alice Bullard Lifetime Achievement Award.
Teak Branch is the other half of the wonderful success of our Bambino Thrift Shop. In November the Shop
held a special Holiday Opening that turned out to be a most profitable afternoon!
Board of Directors
To kick off our Fall fund-raising in September, our Foundation, hosted by Betsy Biern and Kevin Hughes, treated
us to a beautiful General Meeting and “Reunion” luncheon at CHORI. One of the many highlights that day was
when Kevin Hughes presented me with a framed picture of a magnolia tree and announced that, in the Spring,
there will be a planting of a magnolia tree at CHORI with a dedication plaque to me and to the Branches.
Another highlight was being hosted at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco by Betsy Biern putting the Branches
up to be honored at the National Philanthropy Day. The table was made up of a few Branches Board members,
plus Dee Farkas of Fir Branch and Viki. Yes! We felt very proud.
Now to thank the people who played a big part in our success. First off, let’s salute our two office geniuses, Viki
Cebers and Renu Pal. How lucky can we get? Super people – super staff!
We have the hospital family behind us: our wonderful president, Dr. Bert Lubin, Betsy Biern & Kevin Hughes
and the Foundation staff, and Dr. Janet King and the CHORI people – a wonderful group of friends in every way!
Your Branches Board is also pretty impressive. The members give their time and energy keeping us on the right
track. Their dedication is awesome!
2013 was a very important and exciting year for our Children’s Hospital as our President, Bert Lubin, and the
Board of Directors were busy in the planning, structure and many meetings that went into our alliance with UCSF.
Congratulations! You made it!
So, when we add up all our money-making events, include our memorials and other donations, we come close to
$800,000. Now remember, from these proceeds we once again donated $500,000 to our hospital’s Trauma Center,
and when matched by the County, we have already donated 1 million dollars this year to our hospital!
Thank you for granting me another year of representing all you wonderful, dedicated ladies - I’ve enjoyed every
minute of it! Once again, congratulate yourselves for a job well done and share a special toast to our super 100
years of helping sick children get well!
Love,
Betty Jo
From the hospital’s Wish List, your Board chose to fund the following items with monies raised during 2013:
CHB ALLOCATIONS FOR 2013
To date, our 2013 disbursements to the hospital include:
$500,000
CHO Trauma Center (to be matched 1:1 by Alameda County Health
Care Services Agency)
$100,000
CHORI – unrestricted Research Support
$ 22,102
Caleo Isolette - (enclosed environment maintains patient’s heat & body
temperature. Allows for humidification to retain needed fluids lost through
pre-term infant’s skin)
$ 18,734
The Draeger Table - (allows for increased visualization and, with gel mattress,
the ability to control temperature from above and below)
$ 15,000
NICU Discharge Training Class for Parents - provides better standardized
discharge information to reduce parental anxiety and guarantee a successful
discharge and return to the home environment
$
NICU annual reunion picnic
2,500
Emeritus Members:
If you have not already done so, please remit your $50 annual Emeritus dues. Please send
them to: CHB, Inc. 5700 MLK Jr. Way T-2, Oakland, CA 94609. If you’d like some memorial
envelopes sent to you, please indicate so with your check. If you’d prefer to put these dues on
your credit/debit card, just call us at (510) 428-3355 with your information handy.
These dues will ensure that you continue to receive Twigs as well as help defray our operating
expenses. Thanks - in advance - for your quick response!
HILL’S 2014 DEBUTANTES
Front Row: (left to right) - Evans Levy, McKenna
Eichler, Kiera Sullivan, Sabina Addis, Hunter Deuel
Middle Row: (left to right) - Hope Parker, Chloe
Bauman, Daniella Mohazab, Brenna Lowery, Claire
Marvin, Hakela Felton, Claire Restrepo
Back Row: (left to right) - Elise Goetzl, Lily Carter,
Hannah Stenovec, Katie Hubert, Grace Moran
Not Pictured: Lauren Branagh, Mollie Fiero,
Taylor Joy Hutchins, Gabriella Rose Seeno
photo credit: James Fidelibus
Years ago, the Winter Ball may have been primarily an exclusive event for well-to-do families to toast each other,
but not today. This year’s Winter Ball participants have another purpose: to support Children’s Hospital while
simultaneously being celebrated by their families and community.
Now in its 57th year, the Winter Ball has evolved with our culture, but its focus on supporting Children’s Hospital
is unwavering, said Hill Branch member Sally Mehaffey, who with Jean Jones is co-chair of the 2014 Winter Ball.
Each January, Hill Branch invites high school seniors to participate in the Winter Ball, which is held on or near
December 21, the Winter Solstice. Last year’s ball raised $185,000 for Children’s Hospital through ticket sales
and donations.
The 21 young women in the class of 2014 represent a cross-section of the Bay Area, from Mill Valley to Alamo,
the Oakland Hills, Piedmont, Alameda and Lamorinda communities. They each excelled in high school and are
headed to colleges and universities across the country, including UC Berkeley, University of Southern California,
Northeastern University and Wellesley College.
Meeting one another for the first time at the Mother-Daughter Tea in April, the young women shared some of their
feelings about being Winter Ball debutantes. Some had seen their sisters or cousins participate and were drawn to
the unique combination of celebration and fundraising. Many are planning to host events through the summer that
will include a philanthropic activity, such as preparing meals for Children’s Hospital Family House and creating
care packages for the hospital’s young patients.
At the Winter Ball, some traditions remain, such as the formal promenade and curtsy, with the girls wearing floorlength white gowns, and all of the gentlemen in formal tails – and everyone wears white gloves. The girls are
launched, celebrated as young adults taking positive steps toward full engagement in society. In the days after the
ball they may go back to jeans and hoodies; in the years after the ball they become business leaders, lawyers, nonprofit leaders and doctors who support Children’s Hospital.
If you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece, or neighbor who might enjoy participating in Winter Ball 2015, contact Hill Branch President Pamela Stefan at pamelastefan@comcast.net.
ACORN’S SAVE THE DATES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 ~ ITALIAN DINNER
St. Jerome’s Parish Hall, El Cerrito
6:00pm: Attitude Adjustment Hour
7:00pm: Dinner Price: $0/person
Contact: Patti Fadelli (510) 526-2107
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014 ~ GOODWILL BAGS FASHION SHOW & LUNCHEON
Mira Vista Country Club, El Cerrito
11:00am
Price: $60/person
Reservations: Patti Fadelli (510) 526-2107
Branches’ 2014 100th Birthday Celebration, Annual Meeting
& Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
Checking guests in are
Cyndi Santaella (Teak),
Joani Deuel (Hill) and
Debbie Civello (Rowan)
Decorations by Wendy
Dunn (Lombardy) and Joani
Deuel (Hill)
Speaker, Dr. Barbara Staggers.
Director of Adolescent Medicine
Marilyn Zecher (Garden
member & VP of our Board)
presents Betty Jo
with the 2014 Alice Bullard
Lifetime Achievement Award
Cece Werson (Hawthorne) and
Betty McMahon (Lilac) with Betty Jo
Betty Jo’s niece Lori Jo Smith and daughter
Elizabeth Olson join with her to celebrate this
special award
Lilac ladies arrived in style in their chartered ride
Alameda’s Blossom Garden:
Julie Allen, Heather Tega and
Natalie Olsen
Betsy Biern, Rosanna McDonald (Foundation) with Rowan ladies:
Kristina Smith, Jan D’Ambrosio, Sheila Challey, Eileen
Caponio and Gwenn Lennox (Foundation)
Outstanding Branch Members for 2014
Ann Tucker, (l) past
president of the
Branches with Hill
members Rachel
Parker, Carol Leslie,
Sue Smegal, Carolee
Morrison, Sandy Todd
and Lynne Edminster.
Jeanne Edgar (Garden), Molly Kenney (Chinquapin), Joanne Baly (Rowan), Rachel Parker
(Hill), Heather Tega (Blossom Garden), Tili
Tasker (Lombardy), Mary Lou Carter (Lilac),
Diane Walter (Live Oak).
Not pictured is Viki Cebers (Teak)
Cece (center) joins Garden Branch members
Kelly Corrigan (l), our speaker, joins Rowan members
for lunch. Her best-selling books were
available for sale at the luncheon
Great representation from Lombardy: one of two tables!
Two members of Coral sit with Chinquapin Branch for lunch
Reviewing the Branches’ History
From Live Oak: Pat Mosher, Eva Hall and
Diane Walter examine old scrapbooks
Memorabilia and clippings from
“back in the day”
Michele Thompson of Cacao Branch
examines celebrity guests from long ago: Bing
Crosby, Henry Fonda, Hopalong
Cassidy - among them
Lilac’s “Fifty Shades” - A Triumph!
Lilac Branch enjoyed another event success with its Fifty
Shades… luncheon and fashion show on April 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfield. Co-chairs for the
second year in a row were Jeanne Mackie and Mary Lou
Carter.
Guests were greeted by a number of members wearing
men’s gray ties and were welcomed at the bar with two
specialty drinks, the “Inner Goddess” Margarita and Cosmopolitan. The menu was loosely based on favorites appearing in novels with titles similar to Lilac’s theme. Stunning table decorations, donated for a second year by
friend-of-Lilac Michael Holmes, reflected the colors of the
wedding selections of the protagonist/bride in the abovereferenced “literature”. Michael is the proprietor of Ivy,
Twig and Twine in Napa, and Lilac is so grateful for his
generosity, not to mention talent!
Jeanne Mackie’s granddaugher, Callie Hogan,
charming the audience
Lilac Chair Betty McMahon greeted guests and then introduced an esteemed attendee, Betty Jo Olson. Betty Jo
addressed the group with the news of Children’s Hospital’s
affiliation with UCSF’s Benioff Children’s Hospital and the
recent $100 million donation by Marc and Lynne Benioff,
to be shared between the two hospitals. Co-chair Mary
Lou Carter thanked the event committees for their hard
work, as well as Lilac’s generous donors. Among them is
Lilac alumna Ruth Corda, who regularly donates her handmade, one-of-a-kind purses and scarves. This year’s five
unique combinations reflected the event theme in elegant
grayish tones with luxe detailing and a bit of whimsy.
After lunch guests enjoyed another dramatic yet amusing runway production courtesy of helen lyall. This year
we were pleased to see so many friends of Lilac as models, including husbands and grandchildren. Member Joyce Callie Hogan and BFF
Baker in their wedSpinelli’s grandson Mitch was so devoted to his Nana that Natalie
ding attendant shorts
he gave it his best while wearing a cast after recent sur- ah youth!
gery! His buddy Miles McArdle also appeared, as well as
member Jeanne Mackie’s lanky and lovely granddaughter
Callie Hogan. Callie was joined on the runway by her friend
Natalie Baker whose legs go on forever. They looked great
in glamorous shorts as wedding attendants in the show’s
finale. Yes, “shorts” reflecting helen’s penchant for provocative fantasy – fitting perfectly with Lilac’s theme.
Among the most popular raffle prizes were a wine box
painted by Lilac member Nancy Schleicher and two paintings by Lilac’s talented Rosemary Nelson. Along with Ruth
Corda’s purses and a number of creative and unique prizes, the raffle was a huge success, bringing in just shy of
$11,000!
Lilac is grateful for the encouragement of its guests, many
who have supported the Branch with their attendance for
literally decades. Likewise it was happy to see members of
several other Branches in the crowd. Members work hard
in the Branch’s fundraising efforts – Brava to all!
Carolyn Lambert’s
grandson, Bobby Reno
Creach, working the
room
Faithful friend of Lilac,
Luda Havens, a veteran
on the runway
who never ages!
Joyce Spinelli’s grandson,
Mitch, sporting (no pun
intended) a cast.
Loyal model Gil Baex
with Helen Lyall are those handcuffs they’re
wearing?
Monday, September 29
General Meeting and Lunch at CHORI
9:30am - coffee
10:00am - meeting and speakers
11:30am - luncheon hosted by the Foundation
Come and kick off our 2014 Fall fund-raising season by gathering together in
the beautiful CHORI Library to hear what’s going on at the Hospital and with the
Branches.
Calendar Chairmen: Please come prepared to get your 2015 Branches’ calendars!
You can R.S.V.P. to this notice by calling the Branch Office at (510) 428-3355 or
emailing VCebers@mail.cho.org ~ we will need a head count! Invitations will go out
to all Branch Chairmen to share with their membership closer to the date. At that
time, we should know who our speakers are. Hope to see you there!
Lilac’s Viva Italia
Sunday, November 2, 2014 3:30pm - 8:00pm
Italian-themed Dinner with Auction $100/person
Green Valley Country Club, Fairfield
Family
House:
Paper plates! All sizes - all shapes! Microwaveable (no foam,
please). As summer approaches, we are serving more and more
meals. Thankfully, we have the food, but we need paper plates
to serve it on!
And, as always, those gift cards to Trader Joes, Safeway and
Costco - in any and all denominations - are gratefully accepted!
5222 Dover Street - Oakland, CA 94609. Thank you for your continuing support!
UP-COMING BRANCH EVENTS (continued)
October 25, 2014 (Saturday)
11:00am - social; 12:00 Noon - lunch & fashion show
Goodwill Bags Fashion Show
Acorn
November 2, 2014 (Sunday)
Viva Italia
Lilac
November 19, 2014 (Wednesday)
11:00am - social; boutique & raffle
Holiday Party
Garden
December 20, 2014 (Saturday) Winter Ball
Contact Patti Fadelli (510) 526-2107 $60/person
3:30 - 8:00pm
Price: $100/person
Mira Vista Country Club, El Cerrito
Green Valley Country Club, Fairfield
Alameda Elks’ Lodge
12:15pm: lunch & entertainment $50/person
Reservations: Marilyn Zecher (510) 521-2049
9:00 pm - Presentation of Debs
Followed by dinner ~ thewinterball@hotmail.com
Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco
Hill
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO.
1983
OAKLAND, CA
Children’s Hospital Branches, Inc.
@ CHORI Campus
5700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way T-2
Oakland, CA 94609-1673
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
UP-COMING BRANCH EVENTS
September 5-6, 2014 (Friday-Saturday) 18th Annual Dollhouse & Friday 5:00 - 9:00pm Admission $6; child 5-12 $3
Miniatuare Show & Sale
Live Oak
September 6, 2014 (Saturday)
Italian Dinner
Acorn
September 11, 2014 (Thursday)
Dinner & Theater
“Berlin to Broadway”
Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm - Two-day pass is $8
Exhibits, Door prizes, Raffles, Food for purchase.
Info: Diane Walter Jandi2000@comcast.net or
(510) 724-0587 No strollers or pets
El Cerrito Community Center
St. Jerome’s Parish Hall, El Cerrito
6:00pm Social; 7:00pm Dinner Cost: $30
Reservations: Patti Fadelli (510) 526-2107
6:30pm Dinner 8:00pm Show Cost: $45/person
Tickets or info: Diane Walter (510) 724-0587 or
Jandi2000@comcast.net
Live Oak
Hotel Mac & Masquer’s Theater, Pt. Richmond
September 29, 2014 (Monday) General Meeting & Lunch
All Branch
October 4, 2014 (Saturday)
Bridge/Whist Luncheon
Cacao
October 18, 2014 (Saturday)
Moonlight Circus Soiree
Blossom Garden
October 18, 2014 (Saturday)
“All You Need is Love” 9:30am coffee 10:00am - meeting 11:30am - lunch
Please RSVP: Viki Cebers VCebers@mail.cho.org
or (510) 428-3355 - 2015 Calendars will be available
11:00am - social; 12 Noon - luncheon
Auction, raffle - 2:00pm - card games
Info: Sybil Gatling smgatling@aol.com
(510) 261-6313 Price: TBA
7:00 - 11:00pm Price: TBA
Info: www.blossomgardenalameda.com
6:00pm $195/person
www.rowanbranch.org
CHORI Library
Hilton Garden Inn, Emeryville
One Toyota, Oakland
Beatles/60’s theme, Gala des Enfants
Round Hill Country Club, Alamo
Rowan
Up-coming Branch Events continued on pg 7