The Las Candelas recently celebrated its 70th anniversary and installed its 2023-24 officers at the Oakmont Country Club.
The Glendale-based group of women volunteer and provide financial assistance to children and youth in vulnerable situations and support awareness of their mental health needs.
Special guests included City Councilmembers Paula Devine, Ardy Kassakhian and Mayor Dan Brotman, as well as Heather Sardella of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Tara Peterson of the YWCA Glendale and Pasadena, Andy Sica and Gina Peck-Sobolewski of Sycamores, Laura Kelso of Hillsides, and Laura Duncan of Ascencia. Page Whyte, a major benefactor of Las Candelas and husband of the late Karen Whyte, was also on hand to participate in the event.
The history of Las Candelas was displayed for viewing with the many press books that have been kept over the years. Longtime members Ann Ways (1975), Marilyn Butler (1978) and Fran Buchanan (1968) shared their memories of the early days of Las Candelas and their years of service to help vulnerable children.
Outgoing President Rosina Maize of La Cañada Flintridge passed the gavel to incoming President Karen Swan of Glendale. Swan taught kindergarten in Glendale schools for 35 years and is also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale. Other incoming officers include First Vice President Cathy Keen, Second Vice President JCByer, Third Vice-President Nancy Stone, Fourth Vice President Jeri Clark, Fifth Vice President Margaret Cline and Sixth Vice President Nancy Stone.
The Las Candelas will reconvene in September at their annual Summer Party and looks forward to a productive year of providing educational programs and hands-on help to the philanthropies they serve. To learn more about Las Candelas, visit lascandelas.org or the group’s Facebook page at Las Candelas.
First published in the June 17 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
