A Day At The Races 2023
In 2023, Las Floristas is trying something different with our Spring Event fundraiser. We are proud to announce “A Day At The Races”. This daytime event was held at Santa Anita Race Track on Saturday, April 29th.
A HUGE THANK YOU to all of those who came out to Las Floristas Spring Fundraiser “A Day At The Races” this past Saturday.
Together we enjoyed a day filled with exciting races, name a thoroughbred raffle, festive outfits, delicious food and drink, and most importantly we raised money to support our pediatric programs at Rancho.
Even if you were not able to join us in person, you still have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people who have been affected by life-altering disabilities.
At the event, we premiered a video made especially for Las Floristas by a young filmmaker named Julio. Julio himself was a Rancho patient back in 2019. Since then, he has enrolled as a film student at Chapman University.
We were thrilled to hire Julio to create this unique piece for Las Floristas, which documents our program’s impact on a special young lady named Katie.
Simple Donation
- You may decide if you want your donation to go to a specific core program
The Headdress Ball Throughout the Years
Evolution of the Headdress
The first headdress was worn at the 1938 ball held at the Victor Hugo restaurant in Beverly Hills. These headdresses were no larger than over-sized hats, but completely covered with flowers.
1938 – First Flora Headdress Ball, called Bal de Tete and named after a ball held in New York. Cost of a ticket per person was $3.00
1939 – Second ball, themed Ferdinand the Bull. After all, Ferdinand was one of us…he loved flowers too!
1943 – Las Floristas patriotically diminished its floral productions in keeping with the times – World War II. But in it’s stead, they staged a wrestling tournament. World champion Jim Londos was matched against Hard-Boiled Haggery at the Olympic Auditorium with a net proceeds to Las Floristas of $1100.00!
1946 – This was the year of the first light-headed dress which electrified the audience, but nearly electrocuted mannequin Helen Tuttle.
1950 – A return to the Biltmore Hotel and “Showtime.” Due to the low entry door, mannequins were conveyed via wheelchair to their starting point. Vera Neil Olney appeared as Cinderella, complete in burlap..minus a headdress, singing “A dream is a Wish your Heart Makes”. As she reached a far corner, she vanished in a puff of smoke and reappeared in Cinderella’s ball gown with a pumpkin coach on her head. The prize-Most original, but a new rule was made-no singing!
1954 – The coconut Grove was turned into Neptune’s Kingdom and Gertrude Forthman brought the house down as “Queen of the Sea”…with a surprise entourage of 3 tiny sea sprites, hidden somewhere in the ambassador until their appointed appearance.
1955 – Although the ball had been televised a number of times , this was the year that the ball had the distinction of being the first remote color TV presentation in the world.
1958 – The first ball at the Beverly Hilton “Floral Fantasies”.
1960 – An orthopedic surgeon was enlisted to supervise the design of a substantial back brace and rules as to height, width and weight of the headdresses.
1963 – Las Floristas celebrated its silver anniversary .
1970 – The Century Plaza was the location of our carnival themed ball.
1980 – Bob Hope was our honored guest. That year the Bob Hope Audiology Suite at Rancho Medical Center was given in his honor by Las Floristas.
1988 – Las Floristas Golden anniversary and the dedication of the CART facility.
1990’s – Donation of court facilities for the Las Floristas Wheelchair Sports Program and computer equipment for Rancho’s Pathokinesiology Laboratory.
2000’s – Las Floristas passes the 10 million dollar goal for donations to Rancho Los Amigos.
2018 – Las Floristas celebrates its 80th year anniversay with Bal-de-Tête.
To date we have raised over $15 million dollars for the children and families at Rancho Los Amigos.