The whimsical April 26 fundraiser at the YMCA will feature untold stories of the Santa Monica Pier to benefit local children’s dental care.
The members of the Santa Monica Breakfast Club are busy with a whirlwind of planning for their 9 th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party fundraiser, which will take place on Sunday, April 26 th from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Monica YMCA Event Space, 1332 6 th Street, Santa Monica. There is free parking under the building.
This imaginative event has become legendary in the Santa Monica community, known for its colorful atmosphere and charitable cause.
Attendees can anticipate an afternoon of elegance and eccentricity as they indulge in freshly made pastries, a hot buffet brunch catered by Teddy’s Cafe, coffee, tea, and a toast to our honoree.
The event promises to be a fun gathering of old friends and new acquaintances, offering a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the illustrious Jim Harris, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation and longtime Pier historian. Former Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock will make the introduction, and Jim Harris will regale us all with fascinating and little-known tales of the iconic Pier and its history.
Jim has dedicated his life to the Santa Monica Pier for the past 36 years, from his first job there as a bartender at the famous old Boathouse Restaurant, to gradually work his way up to become the storied Pier’s Executive Director. In addition to handling the nonstop daily crowds that come from all over the world for the views, photo ops, and unique experience, Jim takes great care to preserve the character of the Pier. He has written the Pier’s official history book, Santa Monica Pier: America’s Last Great Pleasure Pier (Angel City Press, 2024) and has produced countless events and programs on the Pier, including his own play, Save the Pier!
In addition to the stories, festivities, and culinary delights, guests will have a chance to participate in Live and Silent Auctions of such treasures as Dodger tickets and memorabilia, an El Cholo package, and gift certificates to popular local stores and restaurants, as well as a Raffle featuring hand-crafted Gift Baskets.
Proceeds from the event will benefit local families who cannot afford urgent dental care for their children, which is the focus of the Santa Monica Breakfast Club’s work.
The SM Breakfast Club was founded in 1935 by 12 women who wanted to socialize together. They decided to find a project to embrace that would benefit the community. Ada Fogel was one of the founders, whose husband, Leo, was a Santa Monica dental surgeon, so she knew that during wartime, there was little attention paid to children’s dental needs. The women decided to step up and help families secure that care. Thus, the tradition was born.
The SM Breakfast Club has a history of supporting children’s dental care that spans over 90 years. Longtime club member Leila Brown is the daughter of Ada and Leo. Don’t miss Leila’s talk about the club’s history at the Mad Hatter Tea Party.
Tickets for the Mad Hatter Tea Party are priced at $95 each. To secure a ticket, requestto RSVP at santamonicabreakfastclub@gmail.com or call Kathy at 310 493 8004.
