Altadena Guild Barbara Proctor

Ashley Schrader

Each year, the Altadena Guild awards the Altadena Guild Community Service Scholarship to a Huntington Hospital staff member who has demonstrated an above-and-beyond approach to patient care, and a dedication to community service. Ashley Schrader was the 2019 scholarship recipient.

Working as a patient care associate in our emergency department, Ashley helps provide basic life support, wound care and other essential services. She has also demonstrated her dedication to community service through her work on both our Disaster Preparedness Committee and our Decontamination Team. As a volunteer for Reach Out Worldwide, the Center for Domestic Preparedness, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she has leveraged her skills to help even more community members at times of crisis.

The Altadena Guild’s scholarship helps Ashley as she pursues a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) at Western Governors University. She is scheduled to graduate in January 2021. “The scholarship from the Altadena Guild allowed me to devote more time to my studies, rather than worrying about my tuition and fees,” she says. “I’m incredibly thankful to the guild for their generosity.”

Before Barbara Proctor became a member of the Altadena Guild, she already knew something about the group’s work. She had attended the guild’s annual Home Tours — events that not only offer the opportunity to tour beautiful Altadena homes and gardens, but also include musical entertainment, refreshments and more.

Then, after moving, Barbara found that six of her new neighbors were members of the guild. In 1977, she joined the group and, since then, “The Altadena Guild has been such a huge part of my life,” she says. “I can’t imagine not being a part of it now.”

Barbara remains a fan of the guild’s Home Tours, and appreciates that funds raised help to support excellent medical care for our community. She notes that several of her family members — including her husband, Bob, and their children —have been patients here, and that their grandchildren were born here. “I love that we’re able to support the hospital’s work,” she says.

Giving her time.

Barbara spent her career with the Pasadena Unified School District. For a time, she served as the district’s Adopt-a-School program coordinator, with responsibilities that included working closely with volunteers. Now retired, volunteer service is an important part of her life as a guild member. She dedicates two Mondays each month to volunteering in our S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Gift Shop. “I think the shop is an incredible benefit for everyone visiting the hospital, and a wonderful place for its employees, as well,” she says.

Since joining the Altadena Guild, Barbara has held many leadership roles. She has served as a co-chair of the Home Tour, and for more than 20 years chaired an individual home for the tours. “It’s unbelievable what goes into each tour, and it runs like clockwork thanks to the wonderful group of women involved,” she says.

Most recently, Barbara has been helping out at the bakery venue for the tour. She remains an associate member of the guild. “It’s an amazing group and the work they do is a real testament to the strength of the leadership and the energy of all the members,” she says.

While the Altadena Guild’s 69th annual Home Tour, scheduled for May 3, 2020, was cancelled due to COVID-19, the guild continued to solicit donations from patrons. Funds raised are helping create a new cardiac center at Huntington Hospital. In addition, funds support our Constance G. Zahorik Appearance Center and the Altadena Guild Community Service Scholarship. A portion of funds raised also benefits Huntington Medical Research Institutes. For more information regarding the Altadena Guild and future events, please visit www.altadenaguild.org.