Over-the-top enthusiasm of the sold-out crowd during the 15th annual “Dancing for Our Stars” raised more than $700,000 — a record‑breaking event total.
The money raised during the March 7 event will support MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
Inspired by the television series “Dancing with the Stars,” the event at the Westin Long Beach featured a ballroom glistening in crystal and white, highlighting “A Crystal Celebration” evening. Volunteer dancers were paired with professional partners to deliver dynamic, heartfelt performances — each rooted in deeply personal stories.
Katie Jakemer, daughter of Long Beach restaurateur John Morris, was crowned the 2026 champion. All of the community members-turned-dancers were creative and innovative. Other dancers included Dr. Torin and Carol Cunningham, Janet Dockstader, Dr. Deborah Finklestein, and Sumer and Jasmine Temple.
“The Temple Family Charitable Foundation has been the proud title sponsor for this event for the past several years,” said sponsor board Chair Marlene Temple, “and this year daughter Sumer and granddaughter Jasmine were performing.”
They used their personal experiences with medical care as inspiration to dress up and dance to support patients being treated at Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospitals.
More than a night of entertainment, the event became a tribute to resilience. Stories of survivorship and remembrance filled the ballroom, inspiring guests to raise the fundraising thermometer higher in support of local patients and families.
Seen at the scene: Temple Foundation Board member Marlene Temple, Sumer Temple, Natasha Khrushova, Jacki Stanfield, Norm and Trish Rasmussen, Ryan and Maria Ashton, Jim and Melanie Choura, Gloria Deukmejian, Cheri Bazley and David Tripp, Nancy Eilers, Randy and Nancy Gordon, Marcelle Epley, Heather Summers, Vivian Malauulu, Paul Kaminski, Robyn Gordon-Peterson, Paul Forchione, Mary Sopheia, Dr. Leslie Capin, Dr. Elizabeth McCann, Lynne Pillsbury, Mike and Liza Van Dyke, Katherine Keesal, Steve Keesal, Roxie Hause, Foundation Chair Rob Gunsalus, Craig Cross, Mari Hooper, Sofia Riley, Justin Rudd, Long Beach Councilwoman Kristina Duggan, Linda Dilday, Aaron and Dr. Regina Cash, Virginia Baxter, Adriana Lanting, Joe and Karen Zucchero, Gil Dodson, Richard Neri and Kurt Schulzman, John and Nina Mehigan, Russ and Avalon Hill, Bob and Pam Funari, Renae Waestman-Furlow, Steve and Tawnya Nader, Doug and Nancy Todd, Natalie Barron and Candice Wood.
In the lineup for the ‘Dancing for Our Stars’ fundraiser, from left, Dr. Deborah Finklestein, Carol Cunningham, Dr. Torin Cunningham, Emiliano Torres, Janet Dockstader, Katie Jakemer, Shane Hardy, Sumer Temple, Jasmine Temple, Memorial Medical Center Foundation board chair Katherine Keesal and Memorial Medical Center Foundation president Rob Gunsalus. (Courtesy photo)
Miller Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, photo from left, Dr. Graham Tse; Dr. Saar Danon; Chris Laulhere; Lara Khouri; Robert Gunsalus; Dr. Cindy Herrington; Kaye Marie Juno Remo. (Courtesy photo)
Show Caption
1 of 2
In the lineup for the ‘Dancing for Our Stars’ fundraiser, from left, Dr. Deborah Finklestein, Carol Cunningham, Dr. Torin Cunningham, Emiliano Torres, Janet Dockstader, Katie Jakemer, Shane Hardy, Sumer Temple, Jasmine Temple, Memorial Medical Center Foundation board chair Katherine Keesal and Memorial Medical Center Foundation president Rob Gunsalus. (Courtesy photo)
Expand
Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Auxiliary Annual Designer Fashion Show
The Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Auxiliary held its popular annual Designer Fashion Show on Feb. 28 at the Hyatt. More than 350 guests were welcomed byPresident Roxie Hause, wearing the auxiliary’s color red, apropos of the theme “Hope is where the heart is.” Fashion Show Chair Lisa Maloney did likewise.
The ballroom was beautiful, with black tablecloths, white trees with lights, red hearts and ribbons hanging on them with a black bow at the base.
Popular was the couture fashion productions by Lucinda Miedema. Elegant fashions were provided by Grayseful, founded by St. John Knits founder Marie Gray and her daughterKelly, with designer Maria Lopez at the helm, featured lots of bling and spring colors in pant suits, jackets and dresses. Also featured was the Extreme Collection, a luxury fashion brand founded in Madrid by Jorge and Mariano Garcia Magarino. The brand adapts men’s tailoring to women’s silhouettes, creating elegant, one-of-a-kind pieces that empower women.
The guest speaker was Veronica Zazueta, mother of an 18-month-old child who had been on the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine as a newborn. The machine costs $600,000, pledged by the auxiliary four years ago. The machine lets the heart and lungs heal in seriously ill infants, after surgery, injuries, disease or trauma. Without this life-saving heart-lung piece of equipment, many children would not survive.
The Fashion Show event raised around $70,000 to $80,000 that will be used toward the final pledge of $100,000 for the ECMO machine for the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
An estimated $10,000 was brought in by the live bidding, with Dr. James Fritzel as the master of ceremonies and auctioneer. He and his wife, Christella Torres, had many guests. Live auction items included Topgolf, Wine tasting, a Palm Springs desert oasis donated by Diane Spiegel, and a 45-minute flight aboard the iconic Goodyear Blimp. There were more than 200 silent auction items, including gems from J&L Jewelers. The Long Beach Girl Scout Troop No. 4283 provided volunteers for the event.
Sponsors were: Port of Long Beach, Lois and Dean Fleishhauer, Suzie Duemey, Judy Murphy, Joyce, Ray Bond, The Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation, Pediatrix, Farmers& Merchants Bank, Donna and Ron Rogers, Margie and Jim Penny, Heritage-Dilday Memorial Services and Jane Nielsen. Underwriting sponsors: Vicki Firestone, Betsy Johnson, Terri Torres and Suzi Duemey.
Seen at the scene: Fashion show chairman Lisa Maloney, Megan Flynn, Margie Penny, reservations Chairman Heather Drukker, Linda Dilday, Glenda Wycoff, Leslie Schlauch, Jane Nielsen, Shannon Aquilar, Maryann Dilday, Vicki Firestone, Christella Torres and her husband, Kathy and Bob Milich, Sally Lane, Chris Laulhere, Joyce Bond and Betsy Johnson.
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 562-594-9468 for more information.