Villa Esperanza Chief Executive Officer Kelly White and Award Recipient Hugo Nuño at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
James McDermott, Cynthia Kurtz, Award Recipient Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Arlene Delano, and Gordon Delano at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Mike Frederick and Villa Esperanza Board Chair Andrea Williams at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Claire Marco, Marcie Robinson, Larry Pastre, Gioia Pastre, Charlie Pastre, and Kathleen Pastre at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Nicole and Damian Lee at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Olga Hartstein and Diego Lopez at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Todd Spiegal, Stacey Spiegal, Makitza Maue, and Brent Maue at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Damon Eastman and Margarita Blandon at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Ricki Robinson, Maryanne Mulkey, Chris Benter, and Gary Olsen at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Claudia Lin and Nadia Lee at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jackie Stone, Kathryn Trimble, and Lindsey Harrison at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Villa Esperanza Chief Executive Officer Kelly White and Cathy Gott at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Robert Villaseñor, Gordon Delano, Arlene Delano, Elvira Valenzuela, and James Lara at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Award Recipients Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Hugo Nuño at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Dan Salomon, Casey Salomon, Claire Marco, and Kathleen Pastre at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Alan Schultz, Ed Ovalle, Andy Schultz, and Joshua Ovalle at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Dan and Noreen Johnson at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Daniel Ramirez, Keith Oliva, Josie Nuño, Award Recipient Hugo Nuño, Melanie Oliva, and Ray Oliva at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Raymundo Baltazar and Lorgia Orozco at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Carrie La Londe, Heather Brandon, and Kimberly Hawkins at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Evita Valero and Andrea Edoria at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Bob Zuber, Patty Zuber, and Tom Bristol at Villa Esperanza Services' Annual Gala "Garden of Hope Soirée" at the California Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
More than 200 supporters gathered Saturday evening for Villa Esperanza Services’ Garden of Hope Soirée, filling the elegant rooms of the California Club.
The annual gala, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, carried added meaning in 2026 as Villa Esperanza marked 65 years of service. Since 1961, the Pasadena-based nonprofit has provided education, therapy, vocational training and community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the tone of the evening reflected both that long history and the work still ahead.
Guests arrived at a spring-themed setting that leaned into the evening’s “Garden of Hope” motif—an easy backdrop for conversation as attendees mingled before dinner. There were plenty of nibbles to be enjoyed along with cocktails and plenty of bidding at the silent auction.
Two honorees drew warm applause from the crowd. Kathryn Barger, representing the county’s Fifth District, was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Hope Advocate Award, while Hugo Nuño, a Villa sibling and former board chair, received the 27th Annual Guardian Angel Award, reflecting years of close involvement with the organization and its mission.
Between courses, attendees were encouraged to bid on luxury dinners, sports events and travel. Funds raised will support the many vital programs that Villa Esperanza offers.
For more information visit www.villaesperanzaservices.org.
