Since 1939, Las Madrinas has honored families who have demonstrated a commitment to the civic, cultural, and philanthropic life of Southern California by presenting their daughters at the annual Las Madrinas Ball. Donations made in honor of the young women, together with the annual support of Las Madrinas members and friends, will contribute to the Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment.
Among the Debutantes from West Los Angeles are: Katherine Claire Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Kilgore Elliott (Los Angeles); Andie Jaye Grossman, daughter of Mrs. Jill Baldauf and Mr. Steven Grossman (Santa Monica); Jennifer Ann Olofson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Leonard Olofson (Los Angeles); Catherine Frances Shaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Albert Shaw (Beverly Hills); and Lucile Shea Tilton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cook Tilton (Santa Monica).
On May 9, 2012, the Debutantes and their families gathered at the Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for an orientation and presentation by Dr. Theodora Stavroudis, Director of the Las Madrinas Pediatric Simulation Research Laboratory Endowment. The simulation laboratory provides a controlled environment that recreates real-life patient care settings such as a pediatric hospital room, operating room, emergency department, neonatal delivery room, or even the interior of a helicopter or ambulance. Within this recreated environment, there is a lifelike but artificial “patient†that is computer wired in order to manifest real and evolving medical conditions. Research and training conducted in the simulation laboratory will enable healthcare professionals to further develop and refine the skills required to provide accurate medical assessments, improve hospital safety and enhance pediatric patient care. Following the presentation by Dr. Stavroudis, the families toured Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and witnessed a simulation team demonstration.
The Debutantes, their mothers and their grandmothers were guests of honor at a Tea given by Las Madrinas at the home of Mrs. James Frances Flaherty III on June 13, 2012. The President of Las Madrinas, Mrs. Royce Edrice Wilson, formally welcomed the families and thanked them for their invaluable contributions and commitment to the Los Angeles community. Among the Las Madrinas members greeting the Tea guests were Debutante Chairman, Mrs. Michael Floyd Wright and Ball Chairman, Mrs. Peter Varner Shoemaker.
Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent healthcare. The Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with 100 investigators at work on laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
