Steel Magnolias host signature event, hand out awards

Long Beach Women’s Hospital League also hosted its annual luncheon

Nearly 100 Steel Magnolias and their spouses gathered at Betty Reckas Cultural Center to celebrate the holidays. New board members, new members and awards were also presented.

The evening began with drinks and a welcome by outgoing President Denise Dahlhausen. She has served in the position since 2020, working tirelessly to ensure the all-volunteer organization met its fundraising goals during the pandemic. This was the first in-person annual meeting Steel Magnolias had hosted since 2019.

Membership Chairwoman Claire Guillian introduced the new 2022 member, Dana Buchanan, as well as 2021 members Christine Edwards, Julie Tonks and Jean Joseph. Denise thanked the 2021 Executive Board, while Elizabeth Borsting, who will lead Steel Magnolias as its president this year, introduced the leadership team at the dais.

“Steel Magnolias, which has no paid staff or brick-and-mortar offices, relies on just 50 active volunteers to ensure the mission and goals of our organization are met each year,” Borsting said. “I want to tip my hat to our Denise Dahlhausen, as well as our 2021 Executive Board, who kept this organization running and on task during some of the most challenging times since our inception more than two decades ago.”

The program concluded with Gary Feldman and Loana Pal of The Stramski Children’s Developmental Center, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, accepting a $142,500 check from Steel Magnolia Founder Shirley Wild (and the author of this column), Lifetime Member Anthony Gagliardi, Outgoing President Denise Dahlhausen, Long Beach Memorial Foundation Director Robert Gunsalus and Major Gifts Director Kristen Sweetland.

SEEN AT THE SCENE >> Mary Alice and Bob Braly, Theresa Brunella, Gary Lee Wolf and Carl Hutton Lee, Kurt and Elizabeth Borsting, Carmen Bubar, Karen Owens, Liz and John Krummell,

Don and Judy Black, Lynn and Jack Gesner, Dane and Neal Hickerson, Rick Duree, Dr. Bill and Shirley Wild, Denise Dahlhausen and Hadley Caneer.

LB Memorial Women’s Hospital League

Like so many groups, the Long Beach Women’s Hospital League was so pleased to get together after a long coronvirus-induced hiatus. Eighteen members celebrated the group’s annual luncheon at the Long Beach Yacht Club.

The Hospital League has also recently resumed delivering “Books for Babies” and is planning future fundraisers to purchase more books to gift to new parents and continue putting smiles on their faces all while practicing safe pandemic protocols.

SEEN AT THE SCENE >> Marilyn Rodriguez, Judy Bogart, Jeanne Contreras, Margie Rodriguez, Marie Cady Drummond, President Roxanne Korzeniowski, Valorie Cameron, Jean Stone, Miryam Fernandez, Bea Almada, Kathleen Elkins, Mary Pat Sabol, Jean Dayak