What do the holidays and spring fashion have in common? Both converged during Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s Holiday Home Tour League annual membership drive luncheon held at The Oaks Grille in Valencia on May 4.

Featuring the latest styles from Valencia’s White House/Black Market and a delicious Italian-themed buffet, the festive event promoted volunteer opportunities available with the Home Tour League, which raises funds for Henry Mayo Hospital’s women’s services, including the upcoming Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, scheduled to open in December 2011.

“The fashion show is a special way for potential members to come and learn about the Home Tour while previewing spring and summer fashions,” said president Barbara Sanguinetti. “We’re happy to welcome new members any time during the year, but it’s always nice to have new members join before fall so that we can benefit from any new ideas they may have to help make our holiday events better than the year before.” 

During the luncheon, members from several of Henry Mayo’s fundraising groups, including Estelle Hoffman, president of the Auxiliary, Tamra Oliner-Levine, president of the Guild, along with Bobbie Stephens, Anita Sheidenberger, Barbara Myler, Liliana West and Dree DeClamecy gracefully modeled the White House/Black Market fashions in a tea-room style show.

Home Tour member Ramona Thomas brought eight guests, one of whom, she excitedly announced, joined as the fashion show progressed.

For more than three decades, the Home Tour League has coordinated and hosted the popular tour of beautiful homes professionally decorated for the holiday season. Held the first Saturday of December, the tour has become a highly-anticipated, cherished tradition in the Santa Clarita Valley.

In addition, the all-volunteer league also offers a lavish sneak-peek preview Gala held the Friday evening before the tour, as well as a holiday boutique held in conjunction with the tour.

“Volunteers can do as much or as little as they wish, whether they just want to volunteer for four hours during the Holiday Home Tour weekend or be a more active member and offer a few more hours of their time during the year and the planning of Home Tour,” said Sanguinetti.

For the past 15 years, Mary Flynn, a sales representative from Castaic, has acted as a home hostess during the tour. “I love talking to people and I really enjoy sharing the holiday spirit with the homeowners and the people who attend the Home Tour,” she said. “Each of the homeowners always has their own unique holiday decorating style, and you always discover something that really delights you and you want to imitate in your own home.”

Barbara Dinius of Valencia has been volunteering with the Home Tour League for the past four years in various capacities. “I’m retired and I wanted to use my newly found free time to help others. I’ve always loved the holiday season, and I thought this would be a nice way to benefit my community. But when I joined, I didn’t realize how much it would benefit me. I’ve made so many friends by volunteering with Home Tour, and knowing that my efforts contribute to the new NICU gives me such satisfaction,” she said.

One friend and fellow volunteer is Tami Reyna, with whom Dinius collected raffle prizes from local businesses. “We have a lot of fun activities throughout the year. Everyone came to my house to put baskets together for the boutique,” Reyna said. “I’m retired from teaching and I wanted to do something that I enjoy that also contributes to my community.”

“There are many different ways our members can contribute,” Sanguinetti said. “But it’s amazing how our volunteers are always sharing how much they benefit from their involvement as a result of friendships that develop through their participation and the fun they have during the Home Tour weekend.”

For more information on the Henry Mayo Home Tour League, call (661) 253-8051.