A love of the holidays. A passion for interior design. A desire to make friends and have fun.
All were reasons Barbara Sanguinetti joined the Henry Mayo Holiday Home Tour League in 2005. New to the area, Sanguinetti and her daughter had enjoyed the tour as guests before she became a volunteer.
"I found that getting involved with the Home Tour League was a wonderful way to meet women who have big hearts and selflessly give of themselves," said Sanguinetti. "I have created special friendships with many of these wonderful ladies."
The Holiday Home Tour League welcomes the community to attend its Membership Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Tournament Players' Club (TPC) in Valencia on Wednesday, May 4, at 11:30 a.m. Men and women interested in learning more about the Home Tour and volunteering for the 2011 holiday season are encouraged to attend. The Fashion Show will include a variety of summer styles, graciously provided by the WHITE HOUSE/BLACK MARKET.
Tickets for the luncheon and fashion show are $25 per person, with reservations required by April 27. To RSVP, please contact Eva Murray at 661-253-9844 or by sending an email to ekmurray@aol.com.
"Home Tour members are encouraged to bring their friends, family and neighbors to the Luncheon and Fashion Show," said Eva Murray, Home Tour's membership vice president and Fashion Show chair. "Our goal is to increase membership by our display of camaraderie and fun while we work towards a worthwhile cause, supporting our local hospital."
For the last 30 years, Henry Mayo's Holiday Home Tour has become a popular annual tradition in the Santa Clarita Valley, offering residents the opportunity to see beautiful homes professionally decorated for the season. There's also a festive boutique that takes place on the same day, and a lavish sneak preview gala held the evening before the tour.
The Home Tour League's success and magic relies on dozens of dedicated volunteers to make the magic happen, Sanguinetti explained.
"We need people who love the idea of Home Tour and the holidays," she said. "Our events take place on one weekend, so our year is made up of working to make it a huge success."
The Holiday Home Tour raises funds for Henry Mayo's women's services department and for the last three years has focused on the upcoming Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which is something Sanguinetti appreciates.
"One of the benefits I get from Home Tour is the feeling that I am contributing to a cause that is so meaningful in this town and will impact babies and their families for generations," she said.
Parliamentarian Sue Smyth has been a member of the League since 1983 and served as president in 2000, which was a particularly memorable year.
"I was able to find four fantastic homes in the Happy Valley/Wildwood Canyon area of Newhall," she said. "Each home was special and different. Shuttles were needed to take visitors through the narrow rural roads and we faced a number of challenges, but everyone loved it."
Social activities abound throughout the year for League members, according to Smyth.
"We not only enjoy working together, but have memorable times at activities such as visiting the Pasadena Showcase house each year and our fashion show and luncheon in the spring," she said. "I've made lifelong friendships here and look forward to many more."
Members pay $30 annual dues and can participate at any level they wish, whether it's planning, participation on the board, or simply volunteering for the Home Tour weekend.
