Elizabeth House Director of Development Brandy Meyer, Elizabeth House Board President Nancy Norris, Elizabeth House Director of Alumni Services and Special Events Kristen Mickelson, Elizabeth House Executive Director Jill Hammer, Kate Rhymer at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jim Halverson, Rosalie Halverson, Jessika Wang, Elizabeth House Gala Committee Chair Jennifer Stanley, Irma Cunningham at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Olivia Estrada and Honoree Melida Williams at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Elizabeth House Executive Director Jill Hammer, Sherry Medina, Honoree David Medina at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sheldon Smith and Keynote Speaker Philandria Washington at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Tim Thompson, Katie Thompson, Elizabeth House Gala Committee Chair Jennifer Stanley, Declan Thompson at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
William and Maggie Maweu at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Laura Wang, Mernerka Ariki, Teri Harter at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Kara Szekely and Yolanda Goddard at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Phyllis and Richard Mouw at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Lena Antoci, Javera Knox, Kristen Zumwalt at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Allison Oliver and Jason Fernandez at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Greg Smith, Leigh Smith, Gina Duran at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jae and Sue Lee at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
John Lee, Lauren Cao, Kelsey Yen at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Daniel and Mary Kenney at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Lynne Rivera and Teri Harter at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jennifer Bond, Elizabeth House Executive Director Jill Hammer, Paul Townsend, Nancy Bond at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Elizabeth House Director of Development Brandy Meyer and Auctioneer Jesse Hernandez at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Candice McVey, Dan McVey, Kathie Gibson at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Kristen Zumwalt, Yolanda Goddard, Gina Duran, Alyssa Gomez at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Valerie Yee and Jennifer Vaughn at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Kate Murray, Kathleen Murray, Vanessa Bernett at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Denise Momsen, Jessika Wang, Carolyn Abbott at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jody and Tom Klotzle at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Elizabeth House Gala Committee Chair Jennifer Stanley, Matthew Islam, Grant Stanley, Claire Stanley, Emily Van Citters at Elizabeth House's Night Under the Stars held at the Oakmont Country Club [Photos: Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Philandria Washington thought she was in love. She was only 16, and her parents told her to “run” from her then-boyfriend.
“I stayed,“ she said. “I thought I was in love.”
That relationship eventually bore three children. But it also bore domestic violence, drug abuse and homelessness.
Finally, Philandria realized it really was time to run. But when she ran, she had nowhere to run to.
Living in her car for two weeks in a supermarket parking lot at the corner of Los Robles and Orange Grove, she was advised by a friend to pick up the phone and call Elizabeth House.
“I called the number, and Teri answered,” Williams remembered fondly, at the Elizabeth House “Night Under the Stars” gala Saturday evening, where the 2012 alumna and now board member, was honored as the keynote speaker at the packed event.
“I was right around the corner from them,” she told the audience. By the end of that day, she was enrolled in the program.
“When I finally left the program and headed out on my own,” she said, “I finally knew what love was.”
Since then, she has had a successful career as a property manager, and has opened her own business. Her oldest child, Passion, was also recently selected as one of five students to enter the prestigious Chapman College film school this year.
Hers was one of many stories celebrated at the event in a packed banquet room at the Oakmont Country Club. The gala also honored longtime board member David Medina and Resident Care Supervisor Melida Williams.
Over the last 30 years, Elizabeth House has served 385 women, along with 618 children, and had 330 babies born into safety. Of those, 86% of the alumni were employed or in school upon their transition to independent living. One hundred percent of the mothers remained alcohol and drug free while in residence, while 90% of alumni are living free of substance abuse. Eighty-five percent of the mothers served have maintained housing without current relapse of homelessness. Also, 85% of mothers at Elizabeth house have safeguarded their families by choosing relationships free of domestic violence.
Led by exuberant auctioneer Jesse Hernandez, guests bid on donated Lakers floor tickets, a European river cruise, two weeks in a Newport Beach cottage, and a signed Peter Max art print, as they worked to reach the event’s fundraising goal of $125,000.
More information about Elizabeth House is available at www.Elizabethhouse.net.
