The women behind the first Jewel Ball, a committee of 14 young marrieds, were eager to plan a party that was innovative, unpretentious, modern and beautiful. The young newcomers found themselves in the seacoast village of La Jolla two years after the end of World War II. These ladies charged ahead with an idea to raise money for the China Relief Fund. The Ball attracted 200 partygoers at $15 a couple and raised $1,357. By contrast, this year’s Jewel Ball will likely be a sell-out of 850 guests raising in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 for selected San Diego beneficiaries.
The event has evolved from “homemade” decorations to elaborately designed sets, created by the members themselves in a San Diego warehouse, then transported piece by piece to the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club the week leading up to the Ball. Proceeds from the yearlong fundraising effort, culminating in a single night, fund scores of San Diego charitable organizations, our beneficiaries via the Las Patronas grants process.
From the first, an organizational scheme was put into place to secure continual enthusiasm and a perpetual joie de vivre of the membership. Members who in the early years were housewives in their 20′s and 30′s are now women with professional backgrounds in their 30′s, 40′s and 50′s who have spent years in community service and have refined their volunteer and organizational skills.
Today, Las Patronas is a sophisticated, multi-faceted organization of 50 active members serving six year terms comprising over 25 committees and 20 administrative positions. Members attend countless meetings contributing time and talent to make Las Patronas a well-tuned machine, an operation as creative and efficient as any of San Diego’s most successful companies. Underwriting by a generous base of patrons and San Diego businesses and foundations has become the backbone of fundraising efforts, along with the support of advertisers, donors and past Las Patronas members known as Advisories.
As government funding for social, cultural, educational and health oriented endeavors continues to decrease, the mission of Las Patronas is more critical than ever—funding organizations in all corners of San Diego County. All the while, Las Patronas has remained steadfastly noncommercial, nondiscriminatory, nonsectarian and nonpolitical. Most importantly, the members of Las Patronas have kept alive the original tenet of their founding members – enriching their own lives with the joy of giving to others.
- Special thanks to Susanna Lipe Aalbers, Las Patronas President, 2001-2002
Founding Members of Las Patronas
Mrs. Andrew Andeck**
Mrs. Graeme S. Doane**
Mrs. Samuel W. Foster**
Mrs. H. Stephen King**
Mrs. H. Franklin McChesney**
Mrs. Kathryn T. McReynolds**
Mrs. Pending Morrison Mertz**
Mrs. William K. Porter, II**
Mrs. Ord Preston, II**
Mrs. Mel Rombaugh**
Mrs. Guy R. Showley (MacConnell)
Mrs. Lester R. Stoefen**
Mrs. Carlos Tavares
Mrs. George B. Willoughby**
** Deceased
