Foothill Family Benefit Committee Chair Vanessa Wolf Alexander and Foothill Family Chief Executive Officer Steve Allen at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Foothill Family Board Chair Laurel Bear, Jan Bear, Dan Soderstrom, and Genine Chambers at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Honoree Dorothy Evans and L. Dianne Kennedy at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Foothill Family Chief Executive Officer Steve Allen and United States Representative Judy Chu at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Host Committee: Ron Myrick; Edgar Mora; Laurel Bear, Ph.D; Stefani Freeburg; Jeremy Baker; Christina Gubala; Vanessa Wolf Alexander; Marisa Callahan; Steve Allen; and Lindsey Lansburgh (Not pictured: Nellie Duran, Laura Law) at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Foothill Family Board of Directors: Michael Schmid; Keith Piken; Edgar Mora; Vince R. Lawler; Laurel Bear, Ph.D, Chair, Board of Directors; Chuck Tapert, Vanessa Wolf Alexander, Tina Chiou, Julietta Perez, Jeremy Baker, Sheela Gade, Marsille I. Reed; Margaret Juarez, MD; and David Y. Lin at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Anita and Vince Lawler at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
David and Amanda Lin at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Keith Piken, Kristy Narens, Olivia Moore, Erin Baker, Joanne Lee, Jeremy Baker, and Joe Narens at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Carmen Melendrez and Clarice Ordaz at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Lauren Hawley, Stefani Freeburg, Sarah Rothenberg, and Christy Granieri at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sheela Gade, Julietta Perez, and Anita Lawler at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Edgar and Daniela Mora at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Alisa Rodriguez, Daniela Kim, Miriam Robinson, Debby Kumar, and Marissa Callahan at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sophie Nguyen and Dean Achterberg at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Paul Granieri, Greg Freeburg, and Andrew Clayton at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Dawn Hicks and Renae Williams at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Michael Chung, Miriam Robinson, and Randy Robinson at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Braycy Moran and George Kossan at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Christina Gubala, Foothill Family Board Chair Laurel Bear, and Anita Lawler at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sarah Bennett and Xander Herman at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Mark Zea, Amy Boyle, and Marie Lopez at Foothill Family's Rainforest Soirée held at Annandale Golf Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
On a rainy Saturday evening, the Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena was transformed into a lush oasis for Foothill Family’s 2025 Annual Gala & Auction, aptly themed “A Rainforest Soirée.” Despite the showers, about 300 guests arrived in elegant black-tie attire with a jungle flair. The event, marking 99 years of service for Foothill Family, stood as the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, drawing supporters from across the Greater Los Angeles region to champion vital mental health, early childhood, and family services.
The atmosphere inside the club sparkled with vibrant energy, as attendees mingled among rainforest-inspired décor and enjoyed fine dining, live entertainment, and the excitement of exclusive silent and live auction packages. Later in the evening, the festivities continued with an after-party casino. Throughout the night, guests were moved by powerful firsthand accounts from individuals whose lives have been transformed by Foothill Family’s programs-a poignant reminder of the organization’s impact during a year marked by fire relief efforts and ongoing community challenges.
Founded in Pasadena in 1926, Foothill Family has grown into a leader in comprehensive mental health, early childhood development, and social services, now serving communities from Covina to Pomona. Its wide-ranging programs, from school-based counseling to support for pregnant and parenting teens, have empowered generations of families to thrive. Reflecting on nearly a century of service, CEO Steve Allen remarked in a previous press release, “As we approach our centennial year, we reflect on the incredible impact Foothill Family has made and the lives we have transformed. Our Gala is an opportunity to celebrate that legacy while ensuring that future generations continue to receive the critical support they need.”
The evening’s honorees were celebrated for their extraordinary dedication to the community. Dorothy Evans, CEO of Hope Now Community Resource Center, was recognized for her unwavering commitment to Altadena’s most vulnerable, providing essential care and connection in the wake of the Eaton fire. Marciela Brambila, Principal of Willard Elementary School, was honored for her steadfast leadership and compassion, offering stability and support to students and families during times of upheaval. U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu was lauded for her fierce advocacy, ensuring that fire-impacted communities received federal support and national attention.
The “Rainforest Soirée” not only celebrated Foothill Family’s enduring mission but also reaffirmed the community’s commitment to building a future where every child and family has the opportunity to flourish.
For more information on Foothill Family and their services visit www.foothillfamily.org.
