Ebell celebrates 125th with scholarships, gala

| October 3, 2019 | 1 Comment

EBELL CLUB members visit Los Angeles City Hall to receive City proclamation recognizing the club’s 125th anniversary. Fourth District councilmember David Ryu holds the framed certificate with club president Ginger Barnard (center) and Seventh District councilmember Monica Rodriguez. Others attending include (left to right) club members Madelyn Murray, Janna Harris, Karlene Taylor and Fazie Yakub, plus club general manager Philip Miller.

The Ebell of Los Angeles — the city’s longest-running social and philanthropic women’s club — is celebrating its 125th year.

Celebratory events will be offered all year long and will range from a magic-themed holiday ball and a fashion show (drawing on the club’s 800-piece costume collection dating to the mid-1800s) to a primer on auto maintenance.

Also among its many offerings is the Ebell Scholarship Program — which celebrates its 100th this year.

Students and alumni attended a Sept. 12 Scholarship Centennial Celebration that kicked off the club’s year of celebratory events.

This year, 52 students will receive a total of $247,500 in scholarships from the Ebell Scholarship Program. For 100 years the Ebell has granted more than 5,000 scholarships to local college and university students.

Scholars this year included Rebecca Estrada Berger.  She was a mother at 15, divorced with three kids in her mid-20s, and went back to school and then on to medical school. She graduated from her residency in June and will be working for Kaiser starting this fall. “It’s a very impressive story about the Ebell helping her at a very difficult point in her life and giving her the financial support and self confidence to to go for a better life for her children and herself,” said Ebell director of marketing Tina Tangalakis.

Opening Day Luncheon

Author and long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad (she was the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida) will be the guest speaker at the Ebell’s Centennial Opening Day Luncheon Mon., Oct. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the holidays, actor and club member Sharon Lawrence will host the Ebell’s 125th anniversary ball:  A Magical Mystery Tour.

The Ebell’s fall programming will also include a session with the League of Women Voters, “Civics Lesson: Who’s in Charge?” Wed., Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

Auto Maintenance 101, a hands-on look under the hood, is Sat., Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The club’s annual Charter Day Luncheon celebrating its history and featuring members modeling theatrical clothing from the Ebell’s costume collection is Wed., Oct. 30.

Works by women artists rooted in all things Californian recently went on exhibit. Also this fall, the Ebell hosted its annual Champagne Open House Sept. 22.

Founded by women in 1894, The Ebell has continuously run with female leadership and membership, making it one of the longest-running nonprofit clubs of its kind in the region.  The Ebell was established during the women’s club movement in the late 19th century, and it thrives today amidst a wave of newer social organizations inspired by pioneering females. The Ebell Club is based at its National Historic Landmark 1927 building at 743 S. Lucerne Blvd.

The building was designed by architect Sumner Hunt.  It also includes the 1,200-seat Wilshire Ebell Theatre which presents live performing arts year-round.

The Ebell also operates The Rest Cottage Association, a grant-making and volunteer division of its club that supports various social service nonprofits in Los Angeles.

“The Ebell combines tradition and modernity with members from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, experiences and interests. With our 125th anniversary, we continue to meet in our beautiful, historic building on Wilshire Boulevard and invite others to celebrate with our community of dynamic women,” said Ginger Barnard, president, board of directors, Ebell of Los Angeles.

Details about centennial tickets are at EbellofLA.com/Club.

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Category: People

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