About 50 or so members and guests gathered at Lakewood Country Club on June 16 for the Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Auxiliary’s 80th annual celebratory luncheon meeting.
The event recognized the auxiliary’s accomplishments over the past year and welcomed its newly installed leadership. Incoming President Maryann Dilday announced the 2026-27 theme, “Joyful Hearts,” which reflects the auxiliary’s continued commitment to serving the patients, families and staff of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
Besides Dilday, the newly installed executive officers for 2026-27 are Glenda Wycoff, Heather Drukker, Lisa Maloney, Mary Jo Crites, Jane Nielsen, Marvel Domski, Sally Lane and Parliamentarian Roxie Hause.
During the meeting, the auxiliary celebrated another successful year of service and fundraising. Members contributed an impressive 15,855 volunteer hours in support of the children. Fundraising efforts generated $17,000 from two bake sales and $84,000 from the Annual Designer Fashion Show. The Auxiliary Gift Shop also recorded 14,950 customer transactions during the year.
Four new members received their membership pins and 22 members were recognized with jeweled service pins honoring their outstanding volunteer hours.
A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of a $100,000 check by outgoing auxiliary President Hause to the Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Foundation. The gift fulfilled the auxiliary’s pledge to pay for a Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine, a lifesaving piece of equipment that provides advanced heart and lung support for critically ill infants and children.
Seen at the scene: Committee Chairs Alana Kaleikini, Kathy Green, Beverly Crawford, Stacy Lindholm, Carol England and Shannon Aguilar; Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital CEO Laura Khouri and Director of Child Life Rita Goshert; and Hospital Foundation President Rob Gunsalus and Director of Development Josue Hernandez.
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.