About CII
Support Groups
Children's Institute, Inc. receives a significant amount of financial support each year from three volunteer support groups: The Colleagues, The C.H.I.P.S., and Les Amies. These groups have a combined membership of approximately 200 women who organize benefit events and dedicate the proceeds to CII.
The Colleagues
The Colleagues was founded in 1950 by Mrs. Homer Toberman. As a newly elected member of the board of The Big Sister League (CII's original name), Mrs. Toberman formed CII's premier support group for the purpose of raising funds to purchase a new location for the League's Minnie Barton and Bide-A-Wee homes (homes for single women and for unmarried, pregnant women, respectively). The Colleagues played an instrumental role in acquiring the mansion at 701 South New Hampshire Avenue. In the mid-1970s, The Colleagues made another significant and lasting contribution to CII by commissioning plans and raising funds to build The Colleagues Infant Care Center, adjacent to the 701 building. This facility has served as a model for other child care centers across the country, including CII's Normandie Avenue facility in South Los Angeles County.
Among their major activities, The Colleagues hold a Valentine's Day luncheon and fashion show every year to benefit CII. The highlight of the event is the presentation of CII's Champion of Children Award. Previous recipients have included Betty Ford, Mr. and Mrs. James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Nancy Reagan, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Sheldon, Ambassador John Gavin and Constance Towers Gavin, Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton, actress Anjelica Huston, First Lady of California Maria Shriver, and, most recently, Angie Harmon and husband Jason Seahorn. The group also raises funds for CII through proceeds from The Colleagues' Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica.
Individual members of The Colleagues have also served CII through their personal efforts to secure additional support, and the contributions they have made are exemplary. The courtyard of The Penberthy Child Study Center was named The Colleague Courtyard in honor of the group's decades of valued support, and The Colleagues' Children's Memorial Library in the 701 building was established with Colleagues' contributions and dedicated in 1999. In addition, The Billie Converse Learning Center was established and dedicated in 2005. The Colleagues' ongoing generosity has made it possible to sustain vital programs such as Project ERIN and to meet other areas of need at CII.
The C.H.I.P.S.
The C.H.I.P.S, or Colleague Helpers in Philanthropic Service, was founded by the daughters and daughters-in-law of some of the original Colleagues. The C.H.I.P.S. conduct a different fundraising event every year and have organized theatre parties, fashion shows, polo games and other activities. For the last few years, they have held a highly successful Mother's Day Luncheon that benefits CII. The C.H.I.P.S. are active in searching out new sources of support and have developed many original ideas for fundraising events. Individual members of this group have also played major roles in bringing significant gifts to CII.
Les Amies
Les Amies was founded in 1962, also by Mrs. Toberman. The group hosts a holiday party each year in December expressly to benefit CII. In addition, Les Amies has given support over the years to special needs at CII, such as the state-of-the-art play yards of the 701 and 711 building, as well as renovation of the play yards at the South County facility. In addition, Les Amies helped launch CII's successful Greeting Card Program, "Healing Children Through Art."