Honoring six years of dedication to over 30 charities in Orange County, 33 debutantes from the Newport Chapter of National Charity League, Inc. were honored at the 55th Debutante Ball, which was held on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Hotel Irvine.
The evening was a formal affair with more than 450 guests in ball gowns and tuxedos. The mothers of the debutantes were presented and seated by their daughter’s escorts, marking the beginning of the ceremony.
The 2015 Ball Director Kimberly Prado and her husband Ed Prado were then introduced as Kimberly Robertson, the NCL Newport Chapter President welcomed the guests. Following 55 years of tradition, each Debutante was presented to the audience followed by a traditional St. James Bow and a walk down the dance floor on the arm of her father or sponsor.
After the 33 women were presented, all of the debutantes and their fathers/sponsors danced a waltz, and the room toasted the Debutantes with champagne. After the dinner was served, the Debutantes and their guests danced until midnight to the Jay Sterling Orchestra. Gilmore Studios provided event photography.
The evening was a family affair with multiple generations attending. Several families have grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts who made their debut with the National Charity League Newport Chapter.
There to celebrate Debutante Anna Hancock (who volunteered over 450 hours) was her mother Kathy Hancock and Anna’s three sisters, Emily Hancock (2008 Debutante) Melissa Hancock (2010 Debutante) and Kari Hancock (2013 Debutante.)
Also there to celebrate their daughter’s debut, were past NCL Newport Chapter Debutantes Angela Kendall McCunniff (1989 Debutante) and Nicolle Raymond Winsor (1988 Debutante).
The 2015 Debutantes are:
- Miss MacKenzie Elizabeth Andrich
- Miss Erin Kathleen Barth
- Miss Meredith Amanda Beall
- Miss Amanda Marie Chila
- Miss Carli April Corpodian
- Miss Daniella Kirkwood DeSantis
- Miss Daniella Mikaela Di Giorgio
- Miss Taylor Marie Fogarty
- Miss Bailey Michelle Godber
- Miss Mallory Kate Gyulay
- Miss Nellie Soraya Hamadani
- Miss Anna Kathleen Hancock
- Miss Aubrey Jacklynn Hart
- Miss Kathryn Rachel Junkins
- Miss Kristina Janet Junkins
- Miss Claire Elizabeth Keddington
- Miss Reece Danielle Luebke
- Miss Gabriella Elizabeth Mangano
- Miss Molly Katherine McCunniff
- Miss Brooke Nicole McGee
- Miss Taylor Caroline Olson
- Miss Amanda Mae Pittman
- Miss Josephine Marie Schott
- Miss Olivia Bryn Sever
- Miss Bailey Eloise Super
- Miss Madison Max Tenebaum
- Miss Cheyenne Thies
- Miss Natalie Rose Ward
- Miss Brittany Elizabeth Welsh
- Miss Alice Kate Willett
- Miss Alexandra Inez Willson
- Miss Jaclyn Elizabeth Winsor
- Miss Kira Linden Woods
“We are proud to announce this year’s Debutante Class which is the largest in our group’s history” said Kimberly Prado. “These 33 young women have excelled in academics, athletics, and extra curricular activities while making significant contributions to our community. We applaud their spirit of generosity that has marked their six years of service.”
The 2015 Debutante Ball Committee included Director Kimberly Prado and Assistant Director Kelly Stewart, as well as Mary Adams, Inga Beder, Caroline Davenport, Allyson D’Eliscu, Michelle Duarte, Jenny Gehl, Janine Helman, Susan Merrell, Leslie Montgomery, Amy Owen, Kathy Purdy, Shelly Rankin and Michelle Yacoel.
The 2015 Debutantes are an accomplished group of young women. Having collectively volunteered over 9,000 hours of service to the various philanthropies supported by the Newport Chapter of National Charity League (NCL), many of the ladies have won numerous awards for volunteering 50, 75 and 100 hours a year.
The 2015 class also boasts AP Scholars, Honor Roll students, Editors-In-Chief, Youth and Government leaders, athletic team captains, as well as members of California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society and Associated Student Body.
The majority of the Debutante Class were varsity high school athletes, participating on the track, soccer, cheer, tennis, volleyball, sailing, equestrian and swim teams.
With many having over a 4.0 GPA from high school, this year’s Debutantes are enrolled in colleges and universities across the nation including University of California Santa Barbara, University of Southern California, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, among others.
National Charity League, Inc. is a nonprofit national organization of mothers and daughters who join together in community involvement within local chapters throughout the United States. Its goal is to foster a sense of community responsibility in the girls as well as to strengthen the mother-daughter relationship. The daughters participate in a six-year program of philanthropic work, educational activities and cultural events.
For more information, visit nationalcharityleague.org.
