Legacy
Charity Ball
Glitter in the Air
T
he annual Charity Ball, hosted at the
Hotel del Coronado, is part of San
Diego’s grand traditions, committed
to the children of our community. For
more than a century, the volunteer-
organized Charity Ball has brought together
community leaders and supporters for a night of
elegance and entertainment. It is one special evening
each year, but the night has long-lasting impact on
families across our region.
By raising funds to provide care for the children who
need help the most, the Charity Ball has created a
lasting legacy. Your support throughout the years
helps Rady Children’s Hospital keep its covenant
to the community - to raise the bar, to seek new
treatments and cures and to ensure that we meet the
needs of families now, and for many years to come.
In 1909, the first Charity Ball was held in downtown
San Diego and since 1912, all Charity Balls, with
the exception of 1922, have been held at the Hotel
del Coronado. The Ball took a decade-long hiatus
during the Depression and World War II but returned
with renewed vigor in 1946. Beginning in 1953, the
annual event has exclusively benefited Rady Children’s
Hospital, raising millions of dollars for facilities,
programs and services, and excellence in patient care.
The guiding light of each Ball has been the Charity
Ball Chairman. The inaugural event was steered by
Lena Sefton Wakefield, a vibrant and formidable
woman who helped guide San Diego for more than
40 years. Proceeds from that first gathering were
$1,570 and supported the infirmary at the San
Diego Children’s Home. Lena’s mother, Harriet Lyle
Sefton had been the infirmary’s original benefactor.
Early events provided seed money for what would
eventually become the internationally recognized
Rady Children’s Hospital.
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Other dynamic women would follow in Lena’s footsteps carrying the philanthropic
torch of the Charity Ball comprising an impressive ledger of Who’s Who of San
Diego. The Sefton family helped to lead the way, Harriett Hollida Sefton-Campbell,
Chairman in 1911-15 and 1918-19; Helen Wolcott Thomas Sefton, 1920; and
with amazing dedication, Lena Sefton Wakefield Clark once again took the
helm in 1946. Other recognized names include Mabel Phillips Jessop in 1953
and Jean Utt Frazee in 1967. The Charity Ball’s history is rich with a legacy of
generous, influential families who have been the fabric of San Diego business and
philanthropy for generations.
The 110th Anniversary Charity Ball – Glitter in the Air will be held at the Hotel del
Coronado on February 9, 2019, chaired by Gwynn Thomas, honors each of the
inspirational Charity Ball Chairmen whose dedication and purpose have lifted up
the lives of so many families.