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PATRONS | Fall 2016 7 PROGRESS NOTES house!'" says Chelsea in a blog featured on the company's website. Christine has recently taken a step back to ease into retirement. But when the holiday season rolls around, there's no rest for mother or daughter. ey team up to create something spe- cial and unforgettable for the Holiday Festival. e Gaudentis became involved in the annual event after Torrance Memorial Foun- dation Senior Director of Development and Principal Gifts Judith Gassner invited Chris- tine to attend the fashion show. Gassner had admired Christine's work for years, and over time the two had developed a friendship. After the event, Gassner asked what Christine thought of it. She loved it, but felt there was an opportunity to make it even more festive and special with floral decorations. us began more than 14 years of charitable contri- butions in time, design and materials. e next year, the Gaudentis stepped in to design the floral centerpieces for the fashion show and the gala, as well as the linens and chandeliers. e Holiday Festival Gala and Fashion Show are so important to the Gaudenti family they plan for it year-round, scoping out floral trends and gathering design ideas. "We have to pay attention to what's seasonally available, what's going to be available in bulk be- cause it's such a large event and then make sure it's going to be the right color, the right quality, come in the right size," explains Chelsea. From the selection of the flowers, mother and daughter move on to the design. Rolling Hills Flower Mart is known for its artistic touch. e fanciful, "how-did-they-do-that?" elements one might see on a Tournament of Roses Parade float are done on a smaller scale in their stores. Every year is different. Gassner says there have been countless showstop- pers—from a classic winter wonderland sea of silver and blue to a sleeveless dress form made entirely of flowers. But her favorite designs to date were floral bustier centerpieces for the fashion show and a family of dogs with top hats that greeted guests at the gala last year. "Pink hydrangeas and roses were creatively used to style the beautiful bustier centerpieces. At the gala, everyone wanted a photograph taken with the debonair dogs," Gassner says. Rolling Hills Flower Mart is synonymous with unique and distinctive designs. We are grateful to the Gaudenti family." She continues, "e Las Amigas volunteers cre- ated something really special when they founded Holiday Festival in 1983. e flowers have added another spectacular visual dimension." Rolling Hills Flower Mart has also pro- vided their floral expertise for other hospital events, including "Denim and Diamonds," the ground-breaking for the Lundquist Tower and the building's 2014 opening gala. To Chelsea the real treat is to be able to work closely with her mom to prepare for the event and engage in such a creative process together. "It's a privilege, because I don't know anyone who has the opportunity to do something that cool and that interesting and that fun with that much creative freedom too," says Chelsea. "It's not just any event," she continues. "For me, it means so much more, because when you can give back, you want to. It makes you feel good and it makes everybody around you feel good too." A FLORAL CANINE FAMILY GREETS GUESTS AT THE GALA. THE GUADENTIS "FASHION" A DRESS OF FLOWERS.