A 63-foot Christmas tree, beautifully decorated, stood tall on the Long Beach Terrace Theater entrance, greeting the 255 guests of the Rotary Club of Long Beach’s Inaugural Holiday Fundraising Gala on Dec. 17.
The event, the first Rotary holiday fundraiser in 109 years, was chaired by Rotary President Kelly Ruggirello (she’s also Long Beach Symphony president).
The event featured a delectable dinner and wonderful entertainment. The audience gave a standing ovation to fan-favorite Matt Mauser, who provided Frank Sinatra Rat Pack songs and other holiday favorites.
An exciting Silent Auction of 26 items was viewed during the cocktail hour. It’s anticipated the event will raise $40,000 net for the Long Beach Rotary Charitable Foundation in support of the Club’s more than a dozen charitable projects serving underserved youth in Long Beach.
Photo from left, Rotary President Kelly Ruggirello and Silent Auction Chair Karen Widerynski. (Courtesy photo)
South Course Women’s Golf Club, photo from left, President Jeralee Shewfelt, longtime members Jan Isenberger, MaryBeth Ives and Cynthia Camp and Andrew Favela. (Courtesy photo)
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Photo from left, Rotary President Kelly Ruggirello and Silent Auction Chair Karen Widerynski. (Courtesy photo)
Under the direction of Silent Auction Chair Karen Widerynski, Special Silent Auction Items included:
–A package that usually sells for $10,000: Dining at the iconic Sky Room with seats on-stage at the Symphony’s classical rehearsal;
–A suite at the exclusive Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach in Cabo San Lucas;
–A lakeside stay in Athens, Texas for 10 guests;
A Big Bear Cabin for 10 guests;
–Eight wine and liquor baskets inspired by Frank Sinatra songs;
–A whiskey tasting for 12;
–A Mardi Gras party for 12, with food, libations and New Orleans entertainment.
The Rotary Club of Long Beach is the oldest service club in Long Beach and among the top 50 largest Rotary Clubs in the world. Founded in 1917, RCLB has over 200 volunteer Club members comprised of Long Beach’s business and community leaders.
The club is dedicated to service, friendship, diversity, integrity and leadership with the goal of making a positive impact in the community with a strong emphasis on youth and education in Long Beach.
Rotary Club of Long Beach members improve lives and strengthen communities by promoting peace, fighting disease, supporting education, providing clean water, growing local economies and working to eradicate polio.
With the motto “Service Above Self,” Long Beach Rotarians work together to create positive lasting change in their local community and in the world.
Long Beach Rotarians support education and youth through:
–Reading by Nine, to ensure that every student can read by the age of nine years-old; dozens of scholarships for college aid for LBCC and CSULB students totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars annually;
–Purchasing thousands of books and providing teacher grants to underserved LBUSD schools annually;
–Sponsoring leadership programs for high school students through the Camp Enterprise program;
— Such service projects as Feeding the Future, which donates food and hygiene items to thousands of food-insecure LBCC and CSULB students;
–Operation Santa Claus, which provides holiday assistance for families in need; ongoing volunteer engagement with community institutions such as Ronald McDonald House, by providing monthly meals for families; and
–Development and upkeep of local park spaces such as Rotary Centennial Park, so families in underserved neighborhoods have a safe and clean place to play.
Sponsors of the event included:
–Platinum Sponsors Steve Goodling and Robert Smit, Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and Center ($10K Table sponsor).
–Gold Table Sponsors Machelle Thompson of Keen Care, Craig Dougherty, Jayne Lastusky and Rhiannon Acree.
–Silver Sponsors Sumer Temple, Linda Rahn and Rayne Sherman.
Seen at the Scene: President Kelly Ruggirello with Steve Kearsley, President-Elect Wayne Slavitt, Event Committee: Lisa Finn, Anna King, Lisa Hain, Betty Martin, Nicki Mollett, Rich Gibson, Eddie Paschoalin, Madrid Zimmerman and Jennifer Sarantos. President Designee Rich Gibson, President Nominee Freda Hinsche-Otto, Karen Widerynski, Cam Doherty Killingsworth, John Romundstad, Raymond Cervantez, Sarah Soriano, Mollie Beck, Olivia Maiser, Joe and Jan Hower, David Lott, Doug Haubert and John Graham, Tina Barry, Shelley Hanks, Linda Rahn, Natalie Hale, Judy Ross, Leslie Wiberg and Tanya Adolph.
LBCC’s Lifetime Learning Center
Long Beach City College’s Lifetime Learning Center held its annual holiday party at the LBCC Trades, Technology and Community Learning Campus on Dec. 12.
The festive party venue was decorated by the Senior Advisory Board. They also provided gifts for the holiday auction.
Musician Kevin Wood, on the keyboard, entertained the group of 60 as they sang holiday carols. He also surprised them by singing two beautiful Christmas carols he had written and composed.
“Everyone had a great time!” noted Theresa Brunella, the Director of the Lifetime Learning Center, which operates under the LBCC Foundation as a non-profit organization. The center offers classes, tours and programs for older adults during the fall and spring semesters.
Enjoying the turkey and veggie sandwiches (served with chips, mandarin oranges, and chocolate) were Lifetime Learners: LBCC Foundation staff, Paul Kaminski, Gina Mascaro, Letty Totah, Mitch Lund, Jessica Mouloudi, Charla Nunez, Carol Conley and Theresa Brunella. Instructors, Lucy Daggett, Phillip Newell, Constance Mallaambo and Jorge Ochoa joined in the fun.
Seen at the Scene: Senior Advisory Board members, Naomi Blackmore, Theresa Marino, Barbara Ellis, Mary Crane, Barry Borkin, Marcia LaCour-Little, Tommy Nerman, and Gail Schwandner.
Holiday Luncheon for the South Course Women’s Golf Club
On Dec. 12, an almost sold-out crowd of 70 golfers of the South Course Women’s Golf Club, known as Little Rec to the locals, attended their annual Holiday Luncheon at Old Ranch Country Club. The event included the induction ceremony for the newly elected club officers and well-earned awards for outstanding golf members of the year. The winners were: most improved player Desiree Gooch and most rounds of golf played went to Linda Granillo.
Numerous toys for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, for deserving families, were collected by “Santa’s elves” aka the LBFD’s handsome firemen.
Personally designed golf-themed cookies, made by Teri of the Long Beach Cookie Company, were a big hit, as was the Merry Money Tree.
Seen at the Scene: President Jeralee Shewfelt, Jan Isenberger, MaryBeth Ives, Cynthia Camp, Ann Burke, Jen Stahl, Jan Timmons, Linda Granillo, Elizabeth Bassar, Barbara Eslinger, Maureen Sullivan, Joyce Ricci, Patty Reilly, Nancy Miles and Wendy Goetz.
News of Social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution jpeg photos, by attachment, to spwild@verizon.net and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at for more information.