To pay tribute to the important mothers and women in our lives, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care hosted its 13th Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon on Friday, May 9th at the Coral Casino.
Each year at this unique Mother’s Day event, we honor two mothers – one living and one in memory – and celebrate their lives and acknowledge their contributions to the community.
This year, VNHC was proud to honor mother and local philanthropist Jill Levinson. Guests enjoyed several touching tributes from her husband and VNHC Board Member Neil Levinson, as well as from their children. Jill has selflessly devoted herself to local organizations and causes, including the Santa Barbara Children’s Museum, Crane Country Day School, and Lotusland, among many others.
Also honored in memory that day was Barbara Ward Rollerson, who passed away in 1977. Barbara was the mother of Thomas Rollerson, Founder & President of Dream Foundation. Thomas shared a poignant video and loving reflections about his mother, who passed away at 44 years young, and will always be remembered for her unconditional love she had for her five children. Click here to see the video.
Nearly 400 guests were welcomed with festive cocktails and refreshments as they perused the many incredible silent auction items. After socializing and placing bids, guests were invited to this year’s first-ever stylish fashion show. Shirin Rajaee, Fashion Show Mistress of Ceremonies, welcomed guests and showcased the latest spring trends from local boutiques, which included styles from Allora by Laura, Bonita, Giuliana Haute Couture, Indian Summers, Lana Marmé, Lola Boutique, and Lolë.
Master of Ceremonies Andrew Firestone opened the luncheon program with a warm welcome and introduced Lynda Tanner, President & CEO of VNHC, who then recognized the many wonderful supporters and sponsors of the event, including Premier Rose Sponsors Irma and Morrie Jurkowitz and Union Bank.
Co-Chairs Jodi Fishman-Osti and Pamela Dillman Haskell shared about their belief in the mission of Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care and led the guests in a participatory showing of those in the room who have been touched by the services of VNHC. Nearly the entire room of guests was standing as a testament to the impact that VNHC has in our community.
Andrew Firestone led the bidding wars as Auctioneer, and thrilled the audience with the exciting Live Auction item from Robertson International Travel Consultants, which featured a luxury cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2 in a top-of-the-line suite with veranda for a transatlantic passage from New York to London. The journey for two begins and ends with two-night stays in deluxe accommodations at the Four Seasons, embarking in New York City and finishing in London. The silent auction items included a Cabo San Lucas getaway to the luxurious The One & Only Palmilla resort; VIP tickets to Ellen, American Idol and Magic Castle with two-night stay at the Lowes Santa Monica, and much more.
This year’s event raised over $350,000 which will directly benefit VNHC’s mission to provide high quality, comprehensive home health, hospice, and related services necessary to promote the health and well-being of all community residents, including those unable to pay.
A warm thank you to Fashion Show Mistress of Ceremonies Shirin Rajaee. With enormous appreciation to our participating boutiques for their generous donation of $500 gift certificates, and for lending their signature looks to this event:
Allora by Laura
Bonita
Giuliana Haute Couture
Indian Summer
Lana Marmé
Lola Boutique
Lolë
Special thanks to the stylists, artists, and salons who donated their time and professional services to the Fashion Show:
Atoia Jeter – Fashion Consultant & Personal Stylist
Christina Katz – Salon U Hair Stylist
Marcella Leyva – Cos Bar of Montecito Makeup Artist
Lorraine Star – Cos Bar of Montecito Makeup Artist
JoseMiguel Valdez - Makeup Artist
Paul Mitchell the School Santa Barbara – Hair Stylists
Special thanks to the models who graciously and gracefully showcased the looks featured on the runway:
Allison Antionette
Erika Buse
Michelle Cervantez
Jill Chase
Babetta Daddino
Jessica Feltman
Andrea Garzón
Teri Green
Jennifer Hatton
Jessie Hernandez
Barbara Kummer
Suzanne Murphy
Robyn O’Hearn
Robyn Parker
Finally, VNHC would like to thank the following generous people who, at the recent Peter Murphy Men’s Night, underwrote the expenses for the luncheon so that all the funds raised at the luncheon go to the charitable mission of Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.
John Paul Beltran
Steven Benhayon
Keith Berry
Chris Blau
Ed Brady
Rick Brown
Tad Buchanan
Richard Caleel
Chad Chase
Steve Cherner
Peter Clark
Jamie & Marcia Constance
Bill Cordero
Tom Dain
John Daly
Bryan de Ponce
Silvio DiLoreto
Roger Dunham
Bob Easton
Steve Epstein
Charles Fairbanks
Don Fareed
Bob Fead
David Fishman
Stan & Roberta Fishman
Sam Fordyce
Dennis Forster
Len Freedman
Robert Freeman
Julianna Friedman
Charles Funk
Stuart Fuss
Herb Geary
David Gersh
Mike Giles
Daniel Greenwald
Mark Gross
Graham Guess
Norm Habermann
Tony Hammond
Greg Harding-Brown
Christopher Haskell
Carter Hines
Bob Hirsch
Jim Jackson
Bob Jacquemin
Bill Kerstetter
Chris Jones
Morrie Jurkowitz
Fred Kass
Mitch Kauffman
Bill Kerstetter
Peter Koelsch
Ken Kraus
Neil Kreisel
Art Kroot
Bob Kummer
Mark Levine
Neil Levinson
Steve Lew
Joyce & Fred Lukas
Peter MacDougall
Ed Martin
Chris Martinich
Brett Matthews
Mark Mattingly
John McCann
Brian McWilliams
Bill Meeker
Steve Meister
Bob & Val Montgomery
Earl Morley
Peter & Jillian Muller
Bob Murphy
John Murphy
Judy Murphy
Lon Neff
Scott Newhall
Darren Osti
Alan Porter
Spuds Powell
Ron Pulice
Andy Pulos
Bob Reingold
David Rintels
Brian Robertson
Bill Rogers
Thomas Rollerson & Michael Erickson
Lynn Sarko
John Romo
Ed Rosenblatt
Richard W. Sanders
Lynn Sarko
Dick Schall
Charlie Schneider
Richard Schwartz
Doug Scott
Barry Semler
Don Seth
Bobby Shand
Joel Shefflin
Mark Silverberg
Herb Simon
Gene Sinser
Ed Snider
Jay Stein
Stan Tomchin
Chris Toomey
Sam Tourmayan
Jeff Venegas
Lewis Venegas
Alex Weinstein
Harry Weisbart
Peter Westwick
Jim Whilt
Rhys Williams
Bob Woolley
George Writer
Said Ziouani
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care would like to take this opportunity to send a genuine and heartfelt thanks to all those who supported the Mother’s Day Luncheon. With special gratitude to these event sponsors:
Sponsors
Premier Rose
Irma & Morrie Jurkowitz
Union Bank
Red Rose
Gail & Roger Haupt
Impulse Advanced Communications
Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree
The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
White Rose
Roberta & Stan Fishman
Montecito Bank & Trust
Alan Porter
Andy & Dee Puzder/Carl’s Jr.
Thomas Rollerson & Michael Erickson
Maryan & Richard Schall
James D. Scheinfeld Family Foundation
Chris Toomey
Pink Rose
American Riviera Bank
Margo & Jeff Barbakow
Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf
Tim & Ginny Bliss
Louise & David Borgatello
Brown & Brown Insurance
CenCal Health
Cottage Health System
DASH-Doctors Assisting Seniors at Home
HUB International Insurance Services, Inc.
Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.
Kayne Anderson Rudnick Wealth Advisors
Nancy Kimsey – Legacy
Barbara & Robert Kummer
MarBorg Industries
Mission Wealth Management
Bobbie & Ed Rosenblatt
Sansum Clinic
The Santa Barbara Foundation
Schipper Construction Company
Venoco, Inc.
Volentine Family Foundation
William E. Weiss Foundation
Rose Petals
Judy & Mario Borgatello
Mimi & Richard Gunner
HospiScript
Barbara Petronis
Marlene & Bob Veloz
VNHC would also like to thank auctioneer Andrew Firestone, and the numerous Auction Donors whose generous contributions made the Silent and Live Auctions a tremendous success:
Auction Donors
Alaskan Airlines
American Idol
Avec Moi
Beckmen Vineyards
Robbin Behrens
Bell Street Farm
Bill Bertka – Los Angeles Lakers
C’est Cheese
Ca Dario
Janice & Tom Caesar
Cafe del Sol
California Pizza Kitchen
Cashmir Beauty Lounge
Cielito’s
Cloud 10 Trampoline Park
Condor Express
Consilience Winery
Corktree Cellars
Demetria Estates Winery
Disneyland
Dunham Cellars
El Encanto
Jodi Fishman-Osti
Food and Home Magazine – Phil Kirkwood
Golden Door Spa
Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association
Handlery Union Square Hotel
Pamela Dillman Haskell
Here’s the Scoop
Holdren’s
Holiday Inn Express Solvang
Island Brewery
J. Woeste Los Olivos
Jeannine’s
Keller Facial Plastic Surgery
Sharon & Gordon Krischer
KSBY Communications, Inc
Land and Sea Tours
Chris Levine
Janet Lew
Loews Hotels
Los Agaves
Los Arroyos
Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe
Magic Castles Inc
Massage Green
Maverick Saloon
McConnells Ice Cream
Montecito Cafe
Montecito Coffee Shop
Montecito Country Club
Montecito Village Travel
My Gym
Olio e Limone
Outback Steakhouse
Pane e Vino
Paradise Cafe
Pierre Lafond
Presqu’ile Winery
Rincon Catering
Robertson International Travel Consultants
Saarloos
Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens
Santa Barbara Fire Department
Santa Barbara FishHouse/Boathouse
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara Winery
Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Ynez Soaring
Sides Hardware
Sky Dive Santa Barbara
Stella Mares
Succulent Cafe
Nana Talevi
Tecolote Bookstore
Tennis Shop of Montecito
The Fess Parker Los Olivos
The Juice Club
The Nugget
The Palace Grill
Toma’s
Trattoria Grappolo
Trattoria Mollie
Tre Lune
Trikke Bicycles
Universal Studios
Via Vai
Waterloo & City Restaurant