Wednesday October 20, 2021
Serving The Rio Hondo Community
Vol.63 Issue 5
Photo by Jasmine Soria for El Paisano Media (From left to right) Christopher Felton, Scott Olmsted, Bob Knuth, Katie Sloan, Christopher Allen,Linda Chou, Dan Timmons, Carl Everett,Pete Giulioni, Megan Foker, Kathyrn Winslow, Lanie Lindenfeid, Geoff Johansing,Nitin Chawla, Mara Leong-Maguinez.
A Home Away from Home
Ronald McDonald House Of Pasadena's SHINE Gala raises funds to continue providing for families Jasmine Soria
Editor-In-Chief
jasmine.soria5406@my.riohondo.edu
T
his past Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, board members, donors, and members of the Pasadena community gathered at the Annandale golf course to celebrate the annual Ronald McDonald House of Pasadena SHINE GALA, a night of outdoor dining and full of bidding. Most importantly, to celebrate the work of the House and raise more money, along with honoring Carl Evertt, Former Ronald McDonald House Pasadena Board Chair and community advocate. The charity’s mission is the provide children find a home away from home through their services and during times of need. Everett was recognized for his dedication and leadership towards the House of Pasadena and charity as a whole. “I’d say it is very real, when people have critical children it is a very difficult time for them, and
when people don’t have to worry about housing like hotels, it is a tremendous burden off of them so they can focus on their children well being. It’s real you go there and see the kids and the families.” says, Everett. It is a charity that has shown positive results within the community, with volunteers that have provided more than 7,000 hours of service each year in support of the house’s mission. The night began with a cocktail hour on the lawn of the golf course. There were over 50 baskets and different bidding items to raise money to fund the house. Board members including Pete Giulioni, Board Chair, Geoff Johansing, Board Co-Chair, Scott Olmstead, Treasurer, Bob Knuth, Secretary, Megan Foker, Immediate Past Board Chair, Christopher Allen, Raymond Chacon, Linda Chou, Nitin Chawla, Christopher Dougherty, Shriners for Medical Center, Commander Art Chute, Pasadena Police Depart-
ment, Christopher Felton, Paul Pernecky, Lanie Lindenfield, Will Smith, Katie Sloan, Kathryn Winslow, and Dan Timmons all made an appearance of support and recognition to the foundation. Along with a few other honorable guests, including Ryan and Britney Anderson, a couple who had their premature babies born at the Shrine hospital across the street from the House and stayed at the House. When asking Britney her experience with the house, she states, “It was amazing, everything about it, they picked us right up in our darkest times, they said here you go.” The Andersons were able to share their experience of how the house has helped entire families and share their stories with the rest of the world. Although the House hasn’t just helped the public, Board Members and their families have had a personal experience staying at the House as well.
Kati Sloan has been a board member for about a year and knew about the foundation even before joining the board. “My daughter was born in Huntington hospital, which is right by the house. I always think about people who take their children there, and being able to help them out in a time of need is really heartwarming,” says Sloan. The name, reputation, and acts of positive service have driven people to be part of the Ronald McDonald community. Another member of the Board of Trustees, Nitin Chawla, was asked about his story in joining the House and said, “...I know exactly what he means because that is how my story is, I was a parent of a sick child who moved from India to the US, and stayed at a house in Pittsburgh for six weeks while my daughter was getting brain surgery, so that how I got involved when we moved out LA that was the first course my
daughter wanted to get associated with. Now I’ve gone the full circle where I am serving the community.” This isn’t like any other charity; the House has a Board full of people that all have developed a personal experience and know someone that can relate to it in one way or another. There is gratitude and acknowledgment to what the House does, and everyone does their part to give back to the community. The Ronald McDonald House is different from the other charities because it has a “local touch.” The CEO, Vince Bryson, says, “I think it the best charity on earth, but what makes me feel that way is we are in an international organization with a local touch, so we have 380 Ronald McDonald houses all over the world.” There are 1000’s of volunteers that get involved along with local partnerships. This Continued on pg.2 ▶