LONG BEACH CENTER GUILD CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Established in 1978 to provide volunteer and financial support to our Long Beach Center and to children and adults with disabilities in the greater Long Beach area, the Long Beach Center Guild of AbilityFirst recently gathered to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The event, themed “Pearls of Community” because pearl is the traditional anniversary stone for 30 years, gathered Guild members together at our Long Beach Center for lunch, presentations and the sharing of memories.

Current Guild President Eleanor LaBeau was recognized for her leadership and personal gifts. Past Presidents, as well as all Guild members-current, sustaining and honorary were recognized and applauded for their generous contributions through the years.

The Long Beach Center Guild was formed by nine dedicated woman who wanted to help children. The founding members Ruth Blair, Judy McNulty-Black, Eugenia Murphy, Adelyn Pilchman, Joan Saffo, Wanda Sewak (founding president), Ruth Todd, Lois Watson and Shirley Wild.

The Long Beach Center Guild has donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to the center over the last 30 years. Among the things their donations have paid for are an accessible garden; a fountain; an electric sliding glass door; a rubberized molded sports court; new equipment, furniture, wheelchairs and art supplies; and the resurfacing and tiling of the Aquatics Center. In May 2001, a check for $100,000 was given to Center Director Barbara Schlosser to build a new room for the children, which allowed for expansion of programs offered at the center. It is respectfully named the Long Beach Center Guild Children’s Room.

AbilityFirst thanks the “Pearls of the Community,” the Long Beach Center Guild, for their everlasting contributions and undying commitment to children and adults with disabilities.