Galas galore — Fashion, Derby, Wild West and Big Sunday!
MODEL Donna Econn wearing one of the Michael Kors dresses
The Assistance League of Los Angeles took over The Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank May 1 to celebrate their annual “A Chic Affaire” fundraising celebration.
JAN DALEY struts her stuff on the Chic Affaire runway.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE CEO Greg Kovacs, College Alumnae Auxiliary Chair June Bilgore and honorees Dia and Ray Schuldenfrei.
ALICE CHAN models.
Guests were treated to a luncheon, a fashion show featuring locals aplenty and boutique shopping galore. The League, which has been around for 106 years, supports five local auxiliaries, including Anne Banning (Operation School Bell), Assisteens, College Alumnae, Hilltoppers, Mannequins, Nine O’Clock Players and the Preschool Auxiliary.
In 2024 alone, these auxiliaries provided clothing for over 10,000 needy kids, performed live theater productions for over 7,000 children, sent low-income children to preschool and helped many young adults see their dream of going to college become a reality. Catwalk fashion models, who wore clothes from Michael Kors spring/summer 2025 collection, included Jan Daley, Donna Econn, Alice Chan and Rebecca Trail. Guests enjoyed champagne and charcuterie, gorgonzola mixed green salad with tomatoes and candied pecan and grilled chicken breast with butternut squash and asparagus. Honorees were community members Dia and Ray Schuldenfrei, who have dedicated decades of time and resources to helping the children of Los Angeles. Reflecting upon their years of support for the organization, Ray Schuldenfrei told the guests, “I had hoped that with the effort that you, I and everyone else has put in for more than the last 50 years, the problem would get a heck of a lot better. But sadly, it hasn’t. As you see here, the need is greater today than it ever was even 50 years ago…If you’re not taking any active role in improving your community, especially starting with kids, do it now. Do it with the envelope, join the organization. Continue to give your support, as you are today, and tomorrow will be better for everyone.”
• • •
LOCAL SUPPORTERS, left to right, Pete Sepenuk of Brookside and Zoe and Danny Corwin of Windsor Square.
The annual Big Sunday fundraiser event, held on April 27, looked a little different this year—for good reason. Instead of the usual restaurant venue, this year’s celebration was held at the organization’s new permanent
LOCAL ATTENDEES to Big Sunday included Allan Marks (left) with Dr. Howard Mandel.
home in Hollywood (just a stone’s throw from Musso & Frank!), with the event serving double duty as an energetic housewarming party and the 10th annual gala celebration. The garden party featured art, music, good food and great people. Eating stations included an interactive pasta station with cacio e pepe and strozzapreti pasta; a barbecue station filled with charred green bean salad, house-smoked beef brisket, thick-cut seasoned wedge fries; and an imported and domestic cheese station loaded with marinated Spanish olives, candied nuts, dried fruits and handmade
BIG SUNDAY EVENT.
lavash. A Big Vodka Cranberry and Tequila Sunday cocktail bar kept everyone in good spirits as singers and musicians took to the outdoor stage, welcoming all volunteers and attendees to join them onstage for a rousing rendition of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” The mission of the Big Sunday organization is to connect people through helping, offering an enormous variety of opportunities and projects that unite people to improve lives, build community and give everyone a sense of belonging. Locals spotted in the crowd included Zoe and Danny Corwin, Dr. Howard Mandel, Allan Marks and Bill Devlin. Founder and Executive Director David Levinson thanked guests with a heartfelt recap of everything that the organization has done since 1999 and everything it continues to do as it grows and moves forward. “From Studio City and Santa Ana to London to Shanghai, I like to think that everyone that came through that door has felt seen and heard and respected and been appreciated and known.”
• • •
Couldn’t make it to the Kentucky Derby? For many locals who found themselves in that completely unfortunate predicament, the next best thing was the backyard lawn party in Lafayette Square of interior designer Jenna Flexner and realtor Erik Flexner of The Flexner Group. Residents came from surrounding neighborhoods, including Brookside, Hancock Park, Larchmont and Lafayette/Wellington Square.
COMING DRESSED to the nines for the Kentucky Derby party was this dapper couple.
BACKYARD KENTUCK DERBY party hosts Jenna and Erik Flexner are ready for the races!
I mean, if you weren’t wearing hats, seersucker suits and bright floral dresses, why were you even there? In other words, everyone understood the assignment and came dressed to impress.
WEARING THEIR HATS are Jenna Flexner, Jacquie Menville, Ina Bryant and Sondi Sepenuk, bottom, wearing a hat which was her Granny’s, who passed away two weeks before, at the age of 104.
DRESSED FOR THE EVENT: Janell Fonsworth English, Traci Bates, Lauran Jackson, Shawn Holley, Ina Bryant and Donna Robertson.
COLORFUL GROUP: Steve and Susan Matloff, Fawn and Jeremy Fletcher.
The fun didn’t stop there, though. While waiting for the big race, guests quenched their thirst with Derby Day cocktails including the mint julep, Kentucky mule, and bourbon and Coke. Hand-served appetizers found their way onto every guest’s plate; fruits, cheeses, mini sliders and so much more made sure the guests were ready for the big race. After hours of anticipation, it was time for the big event and a hush came upon the crowd. Within minutes, Sovereignty, listed at 9-1 odds, crossed the finish line first to enthusiastic hoots and hollers. Guests including Stephen and Susan Matloff and Saladin Patterson celebrated by begging the Flexners to make the party an annual tradition. Until we once again hear “And they’re off!”
• • •
MUSEUM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rody N. Lopez (left) with actor (and Edith Wyle’s grandson) Noah Wyle and his wife, Sara.
Wilshire Boulevard’s Craft Contemporary Museum
DRAG PERFORMANCE by Chantal as Cher brought down the house.
was jumping on May 10 with its Benefit & Auction to celebrate 60 years of creativity, craft and
community. The event included a sold-out dinner and auction, which was then followed by an enthusiastic after-party in the museum’s outdoor courtyard. During the dinner, the museum paid tribute to Edith R. Wyle, the visionary founder of The Egg and The Eye, and her profound legacy. The museum also honored Bari Ziperstein, a Los Angeles-based artist specializing in ceramics and mixed media, both functional and sculptural. Silent auction items included a glass candelabra by Katherine Gray, a ceramic bird by Patti Warashina, and a textile laundry bag by Gere Kavanaugh. Afterparty guests
were treated to Descanso bites that included birria empanadas, taquitos de camaron and tres leches de coco. Alex Evans and The Bob Baker Marionettes entertained the excited crowd with some golden marionette classics, while drag queen performer Chantal brought down the house with showstopping numbers by Cher. Executive Director Rody N. Lopez was thrilled with the turnout, commenting, “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who came out to support our mission. It’s a privilege to follow in the footsteps of so many who have contributed to our legacy—
ALEX EVANS of The Bob Baker Marionettes entertains the captive onlookers at the Craft Museum after-party.
especially our visionary founder, Edith R. Wyle. As we honor the past, celebrate the present with trailblazing artists like Bari Ziperstein and look ahead, we joyfully imagine the next 60 years of creativity, community and the transformative power of craft.”
• • •
Did you hear the country western music blaring through the streets of Windsor Square on May 17? Maybe you didn’t hear it, but your eyes surely didn’t lie seeing the stream of revelers, dressed in their Wild West best, two-steppin’ down the street to June Bilgore’s home. Behind the ivy-covered walls, her backyard oasis was transformed into an authentic-feeling country Western ranch for the National Giving Alliance (NGA) annual fundraiser, a Western-themed Giddy-Up Gala, which drew 100 NGA members, plus their spouses and friends. Barbecue, dancing and fundraising were top of mind. Cowpokes chowed down on brisket, chicken thighs, pulled pork, street corn, baked beans, coleslaw and of course an open bar, boasting beer out of a glass boot. If you were in a barn dance frame of mind, you jumped on the dance floor to shuffle your way through a line dance taught by a professional instructor. Not a dancer? No problem. A silent auction, raffle and live auction were there for the bidding and to entertain. Live auction items included a Torrey Pines getaway, a Mammoth vacation package and VIP tickets to a USC Trojans football game (Fight on!). Raffle items included a pair of black pearl earrings, a private horseback riding lesson and an antique jewelry combo. Steve and Olivia Kazanjian emceed the live auction, asking the attendees to open their wallets and open their hearts. NGA President Danielle Reyes told attendees, “Over the last five years, NGA has donated over 100,000 items to local groups, including bedding, clothing, socks… which transfers to about $250,000 worth of goods…and it’s really needed at this time in our community, as you know.” Local organizations supported by NGA include Alexandria House, Assistance League of Los Angeles, Aviva, Good Shepherd, Imagine LA, Los Angeles House of Ruth and Sunnyside 5.
BULL RIDER Roger Morrison with his wife, Lisa.
NGA GALA PARTYGOERS Tommy and Lacy Drissi with Oona and Donald Kanner.
And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
Category: People
