Elizabeth House Board President Nancy Norris, Elizabeth House Executive Director Jill Hammer, and Gala Committee Chair Jenny Stanley at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Lloyd Goddard and Keynote Speaker Yolanda Goddard at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Debbie Enterante, Elizabeth Founder Debbie Unruh, and Moira Brady-Rogers at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Philandria Washington and Passion Washington at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Debbie Enterante, Elizabeth House Director of Programs Terry Bright, John Schlotte, and Kimberly Schlotte at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
David Sera and Brigitta Sera at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
David Smith, Deborah Smith, Leslie Bartolf, Elizabeth House Executive Director Jill Hammer, Gwen Garrison, and Linda Hodson at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Shantay Lazard and Amina Schrump at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Philandria Washington, Keynote Speaker Yolanda Goddard, Gina Duran, and Kara Szekely at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Dale and Jan Brown at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Emily Van Citters, Emily Hinkle, Michael Van Citters, Carol Van Citters, and Jim Halverson at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Cheryl Ormond and Paul Gore at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Eloise Crawford, Sara Jennings, Ariana Smith, and Sonia Luginbuhl at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Steve Wong and Emily June Wong at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Nathan Scoggins, Kate Scoggins, Shawna Diehl, and Shayli Brink at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Merci Rusli and Kathleen Murphy at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Denise Momsen, Carolyn Abbott, Dayna Taylor, and Minerva Ariki at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jessika Wang and Joan Brasher at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Omar Bolden, Ann Marie Ahern, and Azita Milanin at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Lindsay and Bill Tilney at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Brian and Leia Beck at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Erin Dufault-Hunter, Sonia Luginbuhl, and Ariana Smith at the Elizabeth House Gala: Branches of Hope: Celebrating a 30 Year Legacy at the Oakmont Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
When she first arrived at Elizabeth House Yolanda Goddard was looking for a safe refuge from the chaos her life had become. “…I was seeking safety, a refuge from the chaos and trauma of my past while having a one-year-old son running all over the place and being 32 weeks pregnant with my daughter. What I found, however, was so much more than just physical safety. It was a nurturing environment that embraced the genuine values of grace, respect, hope, and love. At times when I felt completely defeated, like there was nothing else left for me, Elizabeth House gave me just a spark of hope that encouraged me and embraced me to keep going, keep fighting.”
And keep fighting she did, earning an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Science with a Specialty in Surgical Technology. “I worked so hard. I’m literally in the operating room with a surgeon assisting to save other people’s lives like you guys saved ours,” Goddard said.
Yoland’s is just one of the many stories of the women Elizabeth House has nurtured and protected over the years. Thirty years to be exact for it was the Thirtieth Anniversary of Elizabeth House’s inception by former Executive Director Deborah Unruh.
Over 200 people gathered to honor the organization and to raise critical funds that will directly impact the lives of over 1,000 women and children. Their goal this year is $150,000 and with a glass of water auctioned off for over a thousand dollars they were well on their way! These funds will support essential programs and services, including shelter, case management, health and wellness initiatives, scholarship funding, and mental health services.
The Branches of Hope Gala was held at the Oakmont Country Club and featured cocktails on the patio and a gourmet dinner in the Club’s ballroom. Silent and live auctions punctuated the evening as well as stories of Elizabeth House alumni.
Founded in 1994, Elizabeth House takes a trauma-informed approach to break the cycles of homelessness, abuse, and suffering. Through shelter and lifelong connection, Elizabeth House empowers pregnant and parenting women in need. For more information visit www.elizabethhouse.net.
