Charity league unveils 27 young women to society

The Newport chapter of National Charity League Inc. celebrated its

42nd annual charity ball, introducing 27 accomplished young ladies to

local society.

The National Charity League motto is , “We search for charity

within ourselves and strive for the graciousness to share it with

others.”

To celebrate this community spirit, more than 500 guests converged

upon the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine to pay tribute to the social

deliverance of local daughters, sisters and friends of the National

Charity League.

Over the years, the emphasis on the debutante presentation, while

still formal and steeped in tradition, has changed. Today, there is a

larger view, encompassing the teaching of leadership skills,

community involvement and the importance of volunteerism in American

society.

In years and decades past, the emphasis on a young woman making

her social debut was directly related to finding a husband within a

particular social and economical echelon within the community. Times

have changed.

The 27 young women making their social debut for the National

Charity League may indeed be privileged, coming from families of

means. However, this social bow is about academic, athletic and

community achievements.

It’s about young women finishing six years of local community

service and finishing high school with plans to attend colleges and

universities of every description. Indeed, it is a rite of passage

and a coming of age, and with deference to the financial privilege

attached to the debutante bow, this is an occasion that many families

treasure for a lifetime.

The 42nd National Charity League Debutante Ball was punctuated by

tears of joy as James Roberts, the presenter for the evening,

introduced the young women and their escorts to Newport society.

Roberts was joined by Mary Pat Lucas, president of the Newport

chapter of the National Charity League, and Jenni Porteous, 2002

debutante activities committee director, in welcoming the 27

exquisite young ladies gliding into the ballroom in their personally

selected floor-length white gowns with their arms covered by long

white gloves. In the tradition of the National Charity League, each

debutante wore the gold and pearl medallion around her neck.

The elegant affair was planned by Porteous, supported by a

dedicated committee of mothers and friends who helped to transform

the Hyatt Regency Ballroom into a spectacular setting of green and

white illuminated by hundreds of white candles. Andrew Gromack, of

Costa Mesa’s Couture Flowers, directed the design activity to the

delight of the crowd.

From the first dance to the final goodbyes, it was an evening of

celebration for very proud local families, sending a very strong

message to their children about both tradition and responsibility.

* B.W. COOK’s column appears every Thursday and Saturday.