The Altadena Guild

Altadena Guild Celebrates 75 Years of Giving

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:21:31 GMT

Altadena Guild Celebrates 75 Years of Giving

 Pasadena Outlook | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | COMMUNITY

The Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital celebrated 75 years since its formation at its general meeting at Huntington Memorial Research Institutes (HMRI) on March 6. The guild’s historian, Penny Gill, along with the help of Teresa Farone, gave a slideshow presentation highlighting its beginnings from March 1951 until the present time.

On Valentine’s Day in 1951, the Altadena Guild of HMH was founded as a support group under the Women’s Auxiliary to Huntington Memorial Hospital.

On March 16, 1951, the newly formed guild held its first meeting at a tea in the home of Mrs. Fred C. Nash on Porter Drive in Altadena. Its first president was Mrs. Harold Smith.

Plans for a spring benefit to be held that following year were presented to the members by the guild’s first Ways and Means Chairwoman, Mrs. Arthur J. Will. And so began the highly anticipated and rewarding Altadena Guild of HMH’s Annual Home & Garden Tour, a news release states.

There were 239 homes on tour since 1952-2024, starting with three homes:

1973 E. Mendocino Lane , the home of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Hermsen, the first home built on Mendocino Lane in 1916.
1930 E. Mendocino Lane , the home of Mr. & Mrs. W.W. Weitlich, built in 1946.
2558 Santa Anita Ave. , the home of Mr. & Mrs. Marble, built in 1914.

Some homes were featured multiple times over the years — each time, with a theme inspired either by the architectural style of the homes, the time period they were built, or the charming neighborhoods. Patrons would come from near and far, eager to support the cause and view the homes and stroll through the gardens.

The first home tour ticket price was $1.50 for the tour only or $2 for the tour and dessert. Total money raised from the first Home Tour in 1952 was $428. Checks and reservations for the tour were to be sent to Mrs. Kenneth Steuer at 1090 Rubio St. Their home was on tour again in 2023, but was lost in the fire of 2025.

Since then, the Altadena Guild has raised over $3 million with its mission to help fund and promote the objectives of Huntington Hospital (recently renamed Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars Sinai) and HMRI.

The challenges appeared in the form of the global pandemic, 2020-2022, and then the devastating Eaton Fire of January 7, 2025. The pandemic kept the guild secluded, but generous donations from patrons and membership helped fulfill financial commitments toward HH and HMRI. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Altadena Guild was ready to resume the Annual Home and Garden Tour in 2023.

Then the Eaton Fire happened, during which 30% of guild members lost their homes. Many of the historic homes that were featured on tours over the years also were lost.

As the guild enters 2026, it is trying to heal, recover, rebuild and reconnect, never losing sight of its mission.

“We need everyone to come together and join the team of strong, inspiring and dedicated women,” the guide said in the release. “Help us grow again, as one of the greatest philanthropic organizations and community leaders in the history of Altadena and Pasadena.”

For more information on how to become a member, visit altadenaguild.org.

Download article here

Eat for Gold at Prime Pizza Altadena

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 20:33:00 GMT

The guild’s fundraising efforts are not limited to just the Home Tour! We also partner with local restaurants to raise money for the Huntington Hospital through Eat for Gold events. To participate, just go to Prime Pizza Altadena on January 17, 2024, and show the flyer or order online and use the code ADGUILD!

Eat for Gold at Prime Pizza Altadena

By Emily Dibblee | December 6, 2023

Posted in Eat for Gold

Home Tour Featured in Altadena Neighbor Magazine

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 01:51:00 GMT

Home Tour Featured in Altadena Neighbor Magazine

By admin | February 28, 2023

Posted in Home Tour , News

69TH Annual Altadena Guild Home & Garden Tour Returns After Two-Year Pandemic-Imposed Hiatus

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:25:00 GMT

May 1 “Festival de Mendocino Lane” promises four homes and gardens to tour, live entertainment and more

PUBLISHED ON MAR 22, 2022 in Pasadena Now Weekendr

After a two-year pandemic-imposed hiatus, the 69th Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital’s Home & Garden Tour returns Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event celebrates its 69th anniversary of supporting Pasadena’s Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) along with Huntington Hospital.

The Guild’s 69th Home Tour, called the “Festival de Mendocino Lane,” features tours of four homes and their grounds on the palm-lined Altadena street.

One of the residences, a majestic 1931 Spanish-style home built by noted architect Richard Bates, is situated on a one-acre subtropical botanic garden featuring 140 palm species.

Another tour home – newly constructed in mid-2020 and never before viewed by the public – is an Italianate villa by architect John Vandevelde.

“We encourage our guests to make a day of it, starting with morning coffee and churros – part of our nod to the Mendoza region of Argentina – and later lunch and refreshments at the Café and Cantina,” said Patricia Ostiller, Altadena Guild member and Home Tour co-chair.

“While meandering from one tour home to another, guests can enjoy live music being played throughout the day in the homes, a Café and Cantina, shop for jewelry, clothing and other beautifully crafted wares from various vendors, and watch a street tango performance by professional tango dancers.”

She added that vendors will donate 20 percent of their event sales to the Guild.

In addition to the tango dancers, the Guild’s 2022 Home Tour marks several other firsts, including a Porsche collection, and booths from local organizations, offering information about various programs available to the community.

Between 1952, when its first Home Tour raised $428 to help furnish the newly established HMRI research facility founded that same year, and 2019, the Guild held 68 consecutive first-Sunday-of-May annual Home Tours resulting in several million dollars donated to HMRI and the hospital.

“HMRI is grateful for the Altadena Guild’s seven-decade partnership with us, which has been vital to our progressive growth and impact. Over the years, the Guild has contributed generously to our capital building campaign, funded critical laboratory equipment and fellowships, and faithfully provided volunteer support to us,” said HMRI President and CEO Julia E. Bradsher, Ph.D., M.B.A.

For the safety of guests, volunteers, homeowners and their families, all Home & Garden Tour 2022 guests will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and wear face masks while inside the tour homes. Additional safety protocols may be required if circumstances warrant.

Posted in Home Tour , News

By admin | March 23, 2022

69TH Annual Altadena Guild Home & Garden Tour Returns After Two-Year Pandemic-Imposed Hiatus

Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center Now Open

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 17:08:00 GMT

Huntington Hospital has opened the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center. Click below to see the new center.

By admin | November 28, 2021

Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center Now Open

Posted in Discover , News

The Guild Supports HMRI’s Mission

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 17:04:00 GMT

The Guild supports HMRI’s mission to improve lives through patient-focused scientific research. HMRI’s goal is to better understand Alzheimer’s diseases and other dementias, migraine, heart disease, mental illness, colorectal disorders, liver disease, and the impact of these diseases on a person’s health and well-being, in order to further develop promising therapies and diagnostic tools that can screen for disease before symptoms appear. In the past year, HMRI, located at 686 S. Fair Oaks, Pasadena, has expanded its scientific leadership in both the Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Programs with the hiring of one new scientist in each program. Additionally, HMRI established a Postdoctoral Fellows Program. The impact of HMRI’s research has been published in 50 peer reviewed journals and communicated through virtual professional and community events.

The latest HMRI newsletter can be found at https://www.hmri.org/ .

By admin | November 28, 2021

Posted in Discover , News

The Guild Supports HMRI’s Mission