The eyes of the young women who recently gathered at the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Guild’s Silver Rose Debutante Introduction Night shined as they learned about the events and opportunities that will abound during the 2007-08 debutante season.
Nicole Bergantino, a 17-year-old senior at Hart High School, said she looked forward to spending her senior year in the program because it would enhance her opportunities to grow as an individual. “I’m looking forward to building my social skills, meeting new people and helping the community,” she said. Bergantino was among the young women who attended the hour-long meeting to introduce potential debutantes and their parents to the program’s educational, social and financial components and the hospital that it benefits. Virginia Hart, guild president, provided an overview of the program, explaining that it teaches social graces and promotes community service. During the program, the debutantes will partake in events including: a presentation tea, during which the debutantes are presented to the community; a professionally-produced fashion show in which the debutantes will be featured models; a mother-daughter tea in which the debutantes express appreciation to their mothers; and the culminating event of the season, the Silver Rose Debutante Ball in March. “We teach social graces that will be important throughout one’s lifetime, whether at social functions or in business settings,” explained Hart, whose daughter participated in the program in 2001. “The program is really about family. It provides a unique family experience that can’t be recreated until your daughter gets married.” Ashley King, 17, a senior at Santa Clarita Christian High School, said she looks forward to joining the debutante program because it offers an opportunity for her to attend new events and encourages charity. “It’s a different level of social interaction from high school,” she said. Seniors in high school and college freshman are eligible to participate in the Silver Rose Debutante Program run by the hospital guild. Participation involves 50 hours of community service, teas and fund-raising events. The guild also offers a Junior Debutante Program for juniors in high school. For more information about the Silver Rose Debutante Program, please contact the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Health Foundation at 661-253-8082.