The Garden Room at Oakmont Country Club was the setting for the April general meeting of the members of Las Candelas, a local philanthropic organization whose mission is to give volunteer service and financial assistance to help improve the lives of children and youth in vulnerable situations and to support awareness of their mental health needs. At the April meeting, representatives from Hillsides in Pasadena, Ascencia in Glendale and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Service of Glendale were presented with grants from Las Candelas to assist their organizations’ projects geared to improve the lives of children who are using their services.

Las Candelas President Nancy Stone presented a grant to Hillsides Chief Advancement Officer Carrie Espinoza to be used in the Hillsides’ Youth Moving On Program. The YMO program provides help for former students of Hillsides who are 18 and over and who need help with job searches, living quarters and higher education.

Ascencia Executive Director Natalie Profant Komuro gratefully accepted a Las Candelas grant that will be used for Ascencia’s Art Therapy for Children program. Ascencia is a transitional homeless shelter for families and normally houses 10-15 children who, with their parents, have been displaced from their homes.

Heather Sardella and Christine Brinn of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services of Glendale thanked the members of Las Candelas for their gift and for the many years of support for their child therapy programs.

Las Candelas also awarded a grant in November to Tara Peterson, executive director of the Glendale YWCA, for its summer camp programs for children in the domestic violence shelter. The grants awarded to the non-profits in 2017-18 totaled $21,500. In addition to financial assistance, Las Candelas provides over $25,000 annually in speakers, field trips and parties for the children at Hathaway-Sycamores and Hillsides Education Center.

Organized in 1953 and incorporated in 1955, the women of Las Candelas have raised funds and provided services for decades to help local children at risk. The primary means of fundraising is its biennial luncheon fashion show, which normally draws over 600 attendees. The next benefit will be March 4, 2019 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel.

For more information about Las Candelas or the upcoming benefit, please visit their website at www.lascandelas.org.

Submitted by Cathy Keen