The Huntington Collection Celebrates 30th Anniversary

One of Pasadena’s most cherished institutions is turning 30 this year, and the public is invited to share in the celebration … and the good work.

Founded in 1984, The Huntington Collection is a unique resale shop of Huntington Memorial Hospital that sells merchandise through consignment and qualified donations. All Huntington Collection proceeds benefit Huntington Hospital Senior Care Network, a nationally recognized program that helps older and disabled adults and their families remain healthy and independent.

“The Huntington Collection is a wonderful way for people to make a meaningful difference in the community while acquiring one-of-a-kind merchandise at really great prices,” says Betty MacInnes, founder of the Huntington Collection who remains a vital part of its operation. “Others can make a difference by donating items that will turn into dollars and support the great work of Senior Care Network.”

The dollars of which MacInnes speaks are not insignificant. Earlier this year the Huntington Collection presented Huntington Hospital CEO Steve Ralph with a check in the amount of $230,000. It was the latest in a series of annual donations, which over the past three decades has surpassed $8 million.

The Huntington Collection receives an extensive array of donated merchandise including clothing, china, crystal, jewelry, books, linens, kitchenware, toys, collectibles and decorative pieces. All are accepted and inspected under the trained eyes of volunteers and staff and then put out for sale if their condition is acceptable. In addition, The Huntington Collection accepts consignment items worth $250 or more after they have been appraised by qualified Huntington Collection appraisers. New merchandise is received every day.

“We try to make it easy for donors by offering an all-inclusive service for the appraisal, removal and sale of personal property,” says MacInnes. “A Huntington Collection appraiser meets with the donor; assesses that a Price and Pack is needed; and arranges for the pricing, packing and removal of all items to The Huntington Collection where they will be sold as consignment or donation. This service has proven to be ideal for older adults moving to a retirement or convalescent home.”

The Huntington Collection also offers month-end sales, usually held on the last Thursday or Saturday of each month, except holidays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale features half price on all regular clothing plus featured sales on boutique clothing, linens, artwork and books. “Bag Sales” are also held three to four times a year where for $10 customers can fill a grocery bag to the brim with regular clothing and accessories. In addition, the Annex section of The Huntington Collection regularly features half price on all donated items including furniture, sofas, dining sets, armoires and rugs.

None of this would be possible without MacInnes who created the shop in 1984 with the goal of supporting the hospital’s recently formed Senior Care Network. The Collection did not have a permanent home at the time; but MacInnes recruited volunteers to help run the sale and solicited donations of high-quality secondhand goods from the community, making the event a tremendous success.

Soon after that initial sales event, and following The Huntington Collection’s move into a large space on Fair Oaks Avenue, MacInnes went to work filling the massive space with desirable items for purchase. In partnership with the Collection’s advisory committee — comprised of professionals from the retail, advertising and marketing industries, along with Collection volunteers — she led the store through decades of expansion.

MacInnes now serves as the Collection’s assistant manager; and Linda Stephens, who has worked alongside MacInnes for 25 years, has taken on the role of managing the store. “Betty is so focused on the Collection’s success; this place is her lifeblood,” Stephens says. “She has the kind of toughness that gets a lot done; and, at the same time, she remains wonderfully compassionate and patient.”

The Huntington Collection is located at 766 South Fair Oaks Avenue. It is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except Thursdays, when hours are from noon to 6:00 p.m. Further information may be obtained at www.thehuntingtoncollection.com.

About Huntington Hospital

Huntington Memorial Hospital, www.HuntingtonHospital.com, is a 625-bed not-for-profit hospital located in Pasadena, California. Huntington Hospital has been ranked nationally by U.S. News and World Report in two specialties and was named among the top hospitals in California. The hospital is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HuntingtonMemorialHospital and on Twitter at @HuntingtonNews.