Annual Report 2021-2022

Spring Gala

by Bill Birch,
Advancement Coordinator

After being confined to Zoom boxes during the last two years of LES Galas, in the spring of 2022, we were finally able to celebrate Los Encinos the way it was meant to be celebrated, IN-PERSON! Over 325 guests enjoyed themselves on the Los Encinos campus which was transformed with a festive nautical flair as we began Sailing Through the Years.

Originally scheduled to be held at the Skirball, a COVID spike in the county made us rethink the venue, and we decided an outdoor party would be a lot safer, so we changed course and moved the event onto campus. Kudos to everyone who helped make the adjustment. It actually felt good that we stayed “home.”

The specialness of our community was in full view as we reconnected and reestablished our bond that makes LES such a special place. An emphatic thank-you goes out to our Gala Chair, Stacy Bernstein and Décor Committee Chairs, Amy Wolkove and Jessica McNaughton, along with all the parents on the Gala Committee who worked tirelessly to help create such a successful event.

The Raffle Team: Zsofia Oblath, Melissa Wilmeth, Nadine Guyaux, Jacqui Romano

The fundraising for the event hit-the-ground-running several weeks beforehand with the ever-popular Teacher Experiences Raffles. Special thanks to the Raffle Committee Chairs, Zsofia Oblath and Melissa Wilmeth for organizing, and to their committee of parents who sold tickets. In just a few short weeks the raffle brought in over $13,000, setting us off with a powerful start in our fundraising efforts.

Our Auction Chair, Harriet Ching, oversaw the silent auction and, once again, she outdid herself. Thanks to her, and everyone who solicited generous donations (from gift cards to priceless experiences) we were able to raise close to $30,000 from auctioned items alone.

We were honored to have Los Encinos Schools’ founder, Chris Holabird, in attendance along with many alumni parents whose children attended LES during his tenure in the 80s and early 90s.

Chris Holabird, Founding Director of Los Encinos School, speaks from the heart.

During the dinner program, Chris was inspirational as he shared with us stories of the journey he took to establish Los Encinos School. The obvious fondness he has for our little school is strong and touching. Many of us who have had an impactful experience at LES give thanks to Chris and all the hard work that he began back in the late 1970s to create this wondrous place behind the red gates. In honor of Chris, we announced the Chris Holabird Tuition Assistance Fund. The proceeds will help fund our robust tuition assistance program into the future. Thank you to the generous supporters: Glenda & Norman Kravetz, Andrea Chapelle & Rick Levy, Alejandro Morales & Sarah Vaill, Kate & Nate Mendel, Brooke & Scott Sloane, Jenna Dewan, Eric Hutchinson & Melissa Greenwood, and Jenny & Ivan Lapidus for seeding this important fund.

The historical video we screened is a testament to the work Chris and others did to not only keep LES afloat but to get us up to the cruising speeds we enjoy today:

(above) A Brief History of LES

Retiring in the spring of 2022, longtime employee Jenny Lapidus was honored for her years of service in which she wore many different hats at LES. From the first computer “expert,” to Librarian, to Community Service Coordinator, she’s done it all (and more)! It was so touching to see her family in attendance as they enjoyed her being celebrated with an amazing video and then an impromptu speech from the heart from Jenny herself. (You can see Jenny’s tribute video on the Community Engagement page.)

For entertainment, world-renowned magician, Joseph Réohm, wowed and entertained us with his incredible mix of comedy and illusion. A thank-you to Tiffany Paulson for coordinating this — quite literally — magical part of the evening.

As we moved into the Raise the Paddle portion of the program, Luthern Williams, the Head of School at New Roads School in Santa Monica (and current Trustee on the LES Board), made a moving appeal for donations. Luthern highlighted the important work that LES has and continues to do with regard to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging curriculum. The outpouring of support for Los Encinos School’s mission was incredible.

Throughout the night, the generosity of our community took center stage as donations came in not only from current parents, faculty, and friends, but also from grandparents, alumni, alumni parents, and even some incoming parents whose children weren’t even starting school until the fall!

When we finally steered the ship back into the dock, the amount raised was close to $300,000, an amazing feat for such a small school. For forty-two years, Los Encinos School has been growing more and more phenomenal, and this night was but one more example. We may be small in size, but we are big in heart and generosity. The LES community is truly one to be celebrated!

Special thanks go to Greg Kappy for his help and guidance in preparing the campus for the event, Brooke Avishay for her Event Planning expertise, Max Beesley and his band for entertaining us during our cocktail hour, and Ryan Glenn for providing the awesome Mir Mir photo booth!

Last but not least, a very special thank-you and shout-out to my co-workers, Nicole Pennington and Jay Falk, for doing a yeoman’s job behind-the-scenes, as always.

And, of course, thank you to everyone for supporting Los Encinos School to ensure a future of smooth sailing.

Ed. Note: Bill is too humble to mention it, but in addition to his emcee and publicity duties he built an amazing timeline called “Sailing Through the Years,” a wall of history made of archival photos and documents that tells the rich story of Los Encinos School from the early days to the present. See some photos of it displayed at the gala below:

If you would like to make a donation to the Chris Holabird Tuition Assistance Fund, click the button below to open the payment form in a new window. Thank you for your support!

Chris Holabird Tuition Assistance Fund

Save the Date
Next Spring Gala
3.18.23