Honoree Timothy Sell, Deputy Fire Chief, representing Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Mara Leong-Maguinez, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House Board Chair Lanie Lindenfield, and Honoree Art Chute, Deputy Police Chief, representing Pasadena Police Department at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Matt Orduno, Melissa Hernandez, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House Board Co-Chair Scott White, and Von White at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Raffy Bitchakdjian and Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Fire Department members Justin Pagliuso, Sean Timoney, Russ Kraus, Ryan Watson, Warren Wakefield, and Ken Lok at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Ryan and Kristina Buckner at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jake Hollis, Alex Hollis, Betsy Yen, and Andrew Ney at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Roman Maguinez and Leslie Leong at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Roman Pack III, Nadia Bastan, Linda Chou, and Nicole Kim at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Valerie Weiss and Event Chair Trisha Steltzner at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Aida Vazin, Susan Jansma, and Garrett Jansma at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sandra Augustin, Tony Ghavarian, Lisa Derderian, and Gale Kohl at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Vivien Stanley and Dr. William Foran at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Ramon Pack III, Nicole Kim, Brian Mann, and Rosa Lee at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Mark Banuelos, Alma Banuelos, and Vannia De La Cuba at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Joann and Mikko Ollila at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Aaron Weiss, Richard Lewis, and Allard Kuijken at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jasmine Morales, Melissa Manning, Dawna Lawrence, Vito Banoza, Natalie Reggio, and Carol Galizia at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Douglas Chin and Valerie Jimenez at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Allare Kelly, Alyssa Mann, and O’Shea McPherson at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Shen Li and Stendria McDonald at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Christopher Hasbrook, Allison Hasbrook, Andrew Sinclair, and Elissa Gysi at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Gaby Avila-La and Manny Garcia at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Steve Protz, Sabina Saedler, and Frank Bornemann at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House SHINE Gala held at the Westin Pasadena [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
The ballroom of the Westin Pasadena glowed Saturday night with the theme “Moonlight Magic” bringing warmth and brightness to a community that has weathered a difficult year. The annual SHINE Gala to benefit Ronald McDonald House Pasadena drew more than 400 supporters, all gathered to celebrate the House’s mission of providing comfort and care to families with seriously ill children—and to honor the first responders who helped protect that mission when Altadena and parts of Pasadena suffered the devastating Eaton Fire.
This year’s honorees, the Pasadena Fire and Police Departments, were recognized for their heroic service during the fire, which tore through the foothills, wiped out neighborhoods, and forced emergency evacuations throughout Altadena and Northeast Pasadena.
“Gathering tonight feels especially important,” said Executive Director Mara Leong-Maguinez, in opening remarks. “When the fire hit, many of our families were frightened, but our community—our firefighters, police, volunteers—made sure everyone was safe, secure, and cared for. We’ve been reminded all year how much strength there is in our shared support.”
Leong-Maguinez, who has led the Pasadena House for six years, described the House as a “home away from home” for families who travel long distances for medical care. “Every time a parent walks through our doors and exhales, that sigh of relief means we’re doing our job,” she said.
Benefit Chair Lanie Lindenfeld, who called the event “our biggest night of the year,” said the evening was also personal. “When you’ve had a medical crisis in your family, you realize it takes a village,” she said. “The Ronald McDonald House is that village for so many families. You want to pay it forward once you’ve seen what that support means.”
For Pasadena’s first responders, that relationship runs deep. As Fire Chief Chad Augustin noted, “This is the heart of what Pasadena Fire is about: giving back and serving our community,” he said. “Tonight’s about supporting an organization that does so much good in people’s darkest times.”
Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Sells also described the department’s long tradition of sponsoring a room at the House “that looks like you’re walking into a fire station,” and noted how firefighters and their families regularly volunteer to cook meals and decorate for holidays. “It’s nice,” he said, “that now when people hear ‘Ronald McDonald,’ they don’t just think of hamburgers—they think of the House.”
One of those families, the Tejerina family from Argentina, shared their story with the audience through subtitles projected on large screens. Their daughter, Valentina, was born with congenital scoliosis. After years of searching for medical care, the family found hope at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles—and a home at Ronald McDonald House Pasadena.
“The day we arrived at the House, everything changed,” said father Armando Tejerina. “It felt warm, safe, like home. After so many months of fear and uncertainty, I remember thinking: this is what we needed—a place where Valentina could heal, and we could finally breathe again.”
Since 2020, the family has stayed at the House seven times during Valentina’s surgeries. In May, they celebrated her seventh birthday there. “Knowing she can celebrate surrounded by love and friends,” Tejerina said, “is something we’ll never forget.”
Throughout the evening, the ballroom buzzed with conversation and generosity. Guests bid on silent auction items, toasted with champagne, and listened as Leong-Maguinez announced plans to acquire and expand all three properties that make up the Pasadena campus, ensuring the House can serve families “for generations to come.”
As the lights dimmed and applause filled the room, and the live auction raised money like popcorn popping, the spirit of the evening felt clear: gratitude for those who protect the city, and deep appreciation for those who protect its families. In a year marked by hardship and recovery, Moonlight Magic offered a steady reminder of what Leong-Maguinez called “the strength and importance of our community of support.”
