Raising funds for charity with art and books

The gals of the Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation Women's Council did themselves proud as they rolled out the red carpet for dozens of supporters on a moonlit evening. Women's Council Chairwoman and Event Chairwoman Suzonne Slaughter welcomed members and guests who strolled among 186 oak trees on the 2-acre, La Cañada estate of Sam and Kate Kaneko on Saturday. Kate is a council past president and current fundraising chairwoman. Daughter Erin Kaneko was party flower arranger extraordinaire.

The council scheduled a full slate of activities including wine tasting to start the night with silent and live auctions following. But guests could not get enough of the sweets and savories from Ocean View Catering. The mac-and-cheese tray couldn't be replenished fast enough. Comfort food definitely prevailed during the cool, Indian summer evening.

Colorful Disney character serigraphs were popular silent-auction items. But it was the live auction that got the most play. The clear favorite was a six-course gourmet Italian dinner for six with Chef Len LaBella and wife Lynn at their Pacific Palisades home. For his day job, LaBella is the president and chief executive of Verdugo Hills Hospital. Hospital physician Bill Foran won the dinner for $750.

Council VIPs enjoying the evening included Glendale residents and Council Recording Secretary Sue Wilder and husband Steve Wilder, a hospital board member. The Wilders donated a bottle of wine for the 24-bottle Customized Wine Cellar — another favorite in the live auction.

The Women's Council has raised more than $3 million to support the hospital. Expected proceeds of $15,000 to $20,000 will go toward the addition of an infant warmer. Also earmarked for funds is the 2010 completion of the hospital's electronic medical record initiative, making Verdugo Hills Hospital one of 8% of U.S. hospitals to comply with the government-based initiative.

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Books and authors were on the minds of busy members of another hospital charity. Members and guests of the La Cañada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild played host to three authors at the new Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland on Oct. 19.