2008 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

 

Welcome to the Valle Monte League, Inc. website.  Thank you for your interest in our all-volunteer service organization that is embarking on its 58^th year legacy of fun fundraising.

 

Each year, Valle Monte League invites you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the everyday to enter the dazzling and exciting world of Christmas Tree Elegance© - a world that transcends the daily routine and where the oohs and ahhs echo throughout.  We wave the magic wand of surprise and splendor to create a magical display of Christmas.  This year we are celebrating our 41^st anniversary to actively support and monetary assist these licensed mental health agencies in our community:  Family & Children Services, John XXIII Multi-Service Center, The Centre for Living with Dying and Alzheimer’s Activity Center.

 

We appreciate the partnerships we share that enable us to fulfill our vision – with the Doubletree Hotel, San Jose, with Macy’s, with the decorators, designers, donors, benefactors, underwriters, professional businesses and individuals and with YOU, our guests.  We commend all who validate our mission and enable us to produce eight fascinating and captivating events attended each

year by more than 5000 friends.  This year’s extravaganza – “Christmas Magic” is

 

• Tuesday, December 2        Brunch and Holiday Office Party
  Wednesday, December 3   Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea
  Thursday, December 4       Morning Coffee, Afternoon Tea, Children’s Party
  Friday, December 5           The Grand Ball
   

Thank you again for your interest in Valle Monte League – Join us in 2008 when we create

 

 

 

 Cathy De Maria

2008 Valle Monte League, Inc. President

 

 

The Valle Monte League Story

(excerpt from a 1997 CTE program article by Marjorie Pierce)

In 1950, a group of five young Los Gatos matrons was helping a small mental health sanitarium in the Los Gatos mountains called Tre Monte.

They assisted with reading and writing and gave gifts of bed sheets and other necessities. The need was great and, at the urging of Reg Loftus, director of the struggling facility, they formed an organization and called it Tre Monte Auxiliary.

Among the first to join were Sue Lambertsen McCord, Tre Monte president in 1952, Frances Anderson , president in 1953 and her friend, Helen Fisher, who had been involved in fashions in Beverly Hills. Helen suggested they do a fashion show and that she would volunteer to train models. The first show, featuring fashions from Appletons and Prussias - small upscale stores, was held around the pool at the Saratoga Inn. The models included the vivacious always-smiling Chris Snyder, the Lindeman sisters, Tildy and Berta, and another pair of very popular, handsome sisters, Jill O'Brien James and Janet Wright. All were well-known socialites.

A giant step forward were the shows featuring fashions from Hart's Department Store Designer Shop. Alex Hart, who had connections in Beverly Hills, brought up Don Loper to serve as emcee one year and actress-singer Patricia Morison another. Both performed before audiences of 2,000 at the Civic Auditorium.

Unfortunately, however, Tre Monte sanitarium was operating in the red and in 1954 closed its doors. The membership elected to carry on in support of mental health causes and reorganized with a new name: Valle Monte League.

Valle Monte League's first president was Carolyn Swanson. Charity McMahon (later Mrs. Morris S. Lee), her husband, the late Brig. General John E. McMahon, joined by Myrne Shephard, a long-time member, drew up its constitution.

In 1954, Adult & Children Guidance Center (now Family & Children Services) was chosen to be the League's first major beneficiary. In 1971, John XXIII Multi-Service Center was added. The Center for Living with Dying became a beneficiary in 1974 and Alzheimer's Activity Center was added in 1986.