(Image from left) Planning committee member Samantha Cutler; Dr. Sherin U. Devaskar, physician- in-chief of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Mattel Executive Endowed Chair in Pediatrics; planning committee members Mia Janick, Ryan Efune, Brynn Efune and Rebecca Khorshidi; planning committee co-chair Loris Lunsford; Lindsey Williams, assistant vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences Development; planning committee co-chair and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital board member Hillary Milken; planning committee member and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital board member Jodi Perlman; and planning committee member Masha Chase.
On November 6, 2022, the annual Party on the Pier returned for the first time since 2019 to Pacific Park on the Santa Monica pier. The signature fundraising event for UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, which had gone virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, raised more than $1 million and surpassed the previous event record by more than $215,000. The success of the 23rd annual Party on the Pier was made possible by the dedication of co-chairs Hillary Milken and Loris Lunsford, the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Board, event planning committee, sponsors, supporters and volunteers.
“For more than 20 years, Party on the Pier has offered children, families and all attendees a memorable day, while also making a meaningful difference,” said Johnese Spisso, MPA, president of UCLA Health, CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences. “We are pleased to once again celebrate this special day in person and are so grateful to the many sponsors and volunteers who have helped make this year’s Party on the Pier the most successful to date.”
Mattel, the hospital’s naming partner, provided premium toys to fill the game booths; the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation helped make the VIP tent a home run with hat giveaways; and the giant, costumed Dodgers Bobbleheads spread team spirit, sharing high-fives and showing off dance moves. Attendees needing a moment away from the action were able to wind down with therapy dogs and volunteers from the UCLA Health People-Animal Connection. The Play It Forward area, sponsored by the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, offered a shady retreat for all guests, with a variety of craft activities hosted by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, face painting sponsored by WWE, as well as a space for children to move and groove during The BeatBuds’ live performances.
Elsewhere in the park, a makeover station, hosted by Petite ’n Pretty, and a celebrity photo booth, where guests could take selfies with stars from kids’ favorite TV shows and movies, were fun highlights. Additional major sponsors of the 2022 Party on the Pier include the Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation, NBCUniversal Media, The Change Reaction, Beth and Dr. Neal Cutler, HCL Technologies, Mia and John Janick, KPMG, the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation, Ellen and Richard Sandler, Iris and Michael Smith, Wolfgang Puck Catering and WWE.
Party on the Pier generates unrestricted funding for high-priority clinical programs and leading research focused on children’s health at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, serving children locally and around the world. Philanthropic sponsorships provided admission tickets for UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital patient families to enjoy the event.
For more information, contact Danielle Dietz at: 310-694-6539
For a more information about the event, visit partyonthepier.ucla.edu