The Helping Hand of Los Angeles presented its Mother’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show May 6 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, honoring actress, model and author Molly Sims, and philanthropist Stacy Valner, founder of the Phase One Foundation with “Mother of the Year” awards.The event, benefitting the Cedars-Sinai Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is now in its 87th year, and a Los Angeles tradition.
“When The Helping Hand was founded in 1929…antibiotics did not exist and it would be another three decades before ultrasounds would come into practice for obstetrics,” Art Ochoa Senior Vice-President of Community Relations and Development at Cedars-Sinai noted. “Since then, both our community and the quality of healthcare have grown in ways we could never have imagined.”
Ochoa and Dr. Sarah Kilpatrick, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology accepted a check for $350,000 for Cedars-Sinai. The gift brings the total amount of support the group has provided to Cedars-Sinai over the years to nearly $24 million.
Actress, model, author and humanitarian Molly Sims’ husband Scott and children Brooks and Scarlett Stuber presented her with the “Mother of the Year” Award. “My mother always taught me to surround myself with people who can look at the glass half full,” Sims commented, “and the people who will help you to strive, soar and be the very best version of yourself that you can be.”
Stacy Valner accepted her award from husband, Alberto and children Nicole, Harrison and Lucy. She commented, “When I was first married, 27 years ago, I volunteered at Cedars-Sinai in their cancer center. I didn’t even know anyone who had ever had cancer, but in an ironic twist, that was where I went.” Valner went on to help found the Phase One Foundation in 1999 after her husband battled stage 4 cancer.
A surprise “Gold Hand Award” was presented to The Helping Hand president Betty Jane Bruck by co-vice presidents Shirley Isaacson and Joyce Rudnick for outstanding dedication to the organization.
Radio personality Ellen K, host of the Ellen K Radio Show on KOST 103.5 FM, emceed the event, which included a fashion show featuring award-winning designer Kevan Hall’s 2016 Spring Collection, and a luxury boutique, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Helping Hand of Los Angeles.
Among their many accomplishments, The Helping Hand of Los Angeles has established the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Program, and funded two endowed chairs at Cedars-Sinai, inspiring research and innovation in obstetrics and gynecology.
