Las Madrinas Celebrates Annual Ball

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

In the midst of winter celebrations, Las Madrinas honored 56 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.

Las Madrinas, which has supported pediatric medicine for years, is one of the first Affiliate Groups of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Since 1939, the organization has been 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.

President of Las Madrinas Kristin Berkeley George Harrison welcomed families and guests on Friday, December 21, and thanked them for joining the group.

She spoke on the recently completed project, the Las Madrinas Endowment for the Chief of Neurology Chair and the Neurological Institute Epilepsy program, and pledged to a new project, the Las Madrinas Diagnostic Innovation Endowment.

She recognized Ball Chairman Lisa Andrew Doniger Goldman and Debutante Chairman Sheridan Thomas Hamilton Link for their efforts in making the event a success.

“Although changes to the ball program were, of course, made to ensure the health and safety of guests in compliance with all applicable COVID-19 guidelines, it was a joyous and festive evening in the annual tradition of the Las Madrinas Ball,” according to a press release.

Kjell Nicholas Hult and Douglas Andrew Thompson announced the Debutantes, and the Wayne Foster Orchestra accompanied the presentation of the Debutantes. The group played the traditional father-daughter waltz that transitioned the event from “presentation to celebration,” according to a press release.

Las Madrinas was established in 1933 as the first affiliate group of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and has been supporting pediatric medicine for over 80 years.

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 nine major projects at the hospital since 1988, including eight research endowments totaling more than $30 million, a capital project on the Cardiovascular Floor, and the newly funded Las Madrinas Endowment for the Chief of Neurology Chair and the Neurological Institute Epilepsy Program.

For more information, visit lasmadrinas.org.