‘Think Pink’ to Return in 2022, Palisadians Invited to Support

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The annual “Think Pink for Women’s Wellness” Irene Dunne Guild luncheon, focused on health education and awareness for women and their families, is set to return in May 2022—and prior to its return, the organization is accepting support from community members.

“The Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, created Think Pink over 16 years ago as a gathering meant to educate women on important health issues,” according to a statement from organizers.

The event was eyeing a return in 2021, but it has been canceled and rescheduled out of caution of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event was going to be co-chaired by Palisadian Susie DeWeese and Kathy Yawitz.

“The Irene Dunne Guild is celebrating its 34th year as a major support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica,” according to organizers. “The guild is comprised of over 100 members committed to putting their hearts forward to find innovative ways to fundraise, comfort patients, educate their community and nurture the mission of providing compassionate care.”

Think Pink was first created 16 years ago by Palisadian Fran Flanagan, and is now one of the main guild events held each year with the goal of promoting awareness in women of health issues, programs and prevention, aiming to bring better health to them and their families.

In a typical year, it takes place in May—in honor of Mother’s Day.

Since its founding, the guild has funded projects and programs throughout the Health Center at Saint John’s, including Stroke Program, Emergency Department, NICU, Gift Shop, Nursing Department and more.

“In 2020, the Guild mobilized to support the Health Center by using over $70,000 in funds from our 2019 Patron Drive to support the caregivers at Saint John’s in numerous ways,” according to the group’s website. This included movie trailers for the staff to shower, laundry service for scrubs, iPads throughout the Health Center, snacks and treats for those involved of care of COVID-19 patients and throughout the center, and more.

For more information or to donate, visit irenedunneguild.org.