Wolfenden’s generosity
Bob and Janet Wolfenden relax in their newly remodeled Rolling Hill home.
by Candi Parks Gershuni
Dedicated community supporters Janet and Bob Wolfenden met in an unlikely place for a girl from Maryland and a guy from California: they shared a chair seat on a ski lift up the mountain in Brianhead, Utah. Sparks must have been flying between them, because 11 months later, following a long- distance romance, they were married at Wayfarer’s Chapel in Palos Verdes. After 25 years of romance, all the while raising a blended family of five children, the Wolfendens continue to share a passion for giving their time and resources to their community.
On July 24, the couple will host “Boogie at the Bayou,” the second of three Celebrate Chefs VI gourmet extravaganzas presented by The Associates to benefit the Palos Verdes Art Center. They look forward to welcoming 200 guests to the sprawling 3.3 acres of their stunning harbor view home for an eclectic Mardi Gras-Cajun-Creole bash, which will showcase the New Orleans-inspired cuisine of Chef Sherie DiBernardo of Matisse Restaurant, inside the Ayres Hotel in Manhattan Beach. The Associates will also present “The Mad Hatter” July 17 with Chef Christine Brown, and “Escape to Casablanca” July 31 with Aimee Mizrahi of Aimee’s Bistro, in the popular three-night fundraiser benefiting school and community outreach programs and art classes.
This won’t be the first time Janet and Bob open their lovely home for a fundraising event. Rotary District 5280, including San Pedro Rotary with which Bob is deeply involved, and the Warner Grand Theatre, were previous recipients of Wolfenden hospitality. Now, to benefit PV Art Center, Janet is excited to host again.
“While our kids were in school they enjoyed ‘Art at Your Fingertips’ and great art center classes,” Janet says. “With today’s state budget cuts eliminating school art programs, we feel it’s more important than ever to step up and provide any support we can to promote art education for children.”
Their Rolling Hills property is perfect for a party under the stars, complete with a New Orleans DJ and lively dancing. Janet suggested the “Boogie” theme, which goes so well with her casual, fun-loving, charming style. She and Bob want guests to have a fabulous time while doing something good for the community. Bob remodeled the original ‘50s home, and the family lived in the older part while building on the large, two-story wing, completed in 2008. The working horse stables, fire pit and patio have all been built or remodeled. Recently, with their three youngest away at college, Janet has been learning to ride with the Portuguese Bend Pony Club. She laughs that daughter Kris moved to South Africa to work on her master’s degree, but left two horses behind for Janet to take care of.
For people who know Janet, this isn’t unusual. If you have something that needs doing, ask Janet or Bob to chair it, lead it, organize it, host it or donate it. These two are known for their willingness to contribute, to take care of things, and get a job done. The number of organizations they’ve contributed time and funds to is staggering.
With five young Wolfendens, much of their volunteer time was devoted to schools and youth groups. Janet served 17 years as a Girl Scout leader, guiding troops for both Liz and Kris. She helped many young women earn the coveted Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Janet is confident those 17 years were a great investment because “scouting helps teach important values to youth. Moreover, camping provides a wonderful opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy the rural experience I loved growing up back East.”
In local schools, Janet held myriad volunteer jobs from room mother to field trip coordinator to PTA executive board positions. At Miraleste School, she set up the first library. She served on both eighth grade and 12th grade graduation committees. It’s no surprise that several PTA vice presidential positions were fundraising jobs, at all school levels. While Charlie and Liz were in high school, Janet served three years on the Palos Verdes Council of PTA’s, as second VP and Historian. During her four years as an AYSO referee, she enjoyed teaching good sportsmanship and team spirit. When Charlie wanted to join the local boys service group and there were no openings, Janet started a new group, Los Hermanos Rojos. She believed it was important for him and the other 24 interested boys to have a good volunteer experience.
One of Janet’s favorite ongoing community commitments has been her 12 years with Las Primeras and the Assistance League. Currently the resource development chair, translation: fundraising — she is also chairman of the Advisory Committee for the fourth year and an active volunteer with Operation School Bell, providing school clothes to impoverished children. Daughters Kris and Liz both served as officers on the Assisteens board, while their indefatigable mother was Assisteens chair for nine years. An active member of RH Women’s Club, Janet will chair Casino Night in September, another fundraiser. Additionally, she is Neighborhood Watch block captain, and is working on the Emergency Preparedness resources list.
Meanwhile, Janet stresses that Bob is never idle, and is perpetually involved in community service, from working with Boy Scouts for five years with Charlie, to serving as one of the highly prized father volunteer chaperones during fifth grade sleep-away Outdoor Science School camp. With his oldest daughter Julie and son Robert, Jr., he participated in Indian Guides and Indian Princesses. As current President of San Pedro Rotary and past president of Wilmington Rotary, Rotary is Bob’s favorite community commitment.
He works closely with Rotary District 5280, which is made up of 53 clubs in the LA area. When the devastating earthquake hit Haiti last January, his Rotarians sprang into action, working together to assemble, build and ship 1,960 water purification devices to the Haitian people, from a kit designed by Fresno Rotary. San Pedro Rotary also shipped three Shelter Boxes to Haiti, which provided tents and living supplies to 30 people for 90 days. Bob explains that Shelter Box USA is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. Obviously proud of his team’s effort, Bob reveals that Rotary’s motto, “Service above Self” motivates him.
“I am proud that this club shares the same heart; we’re all on the same wavelength,” he said.
Other groups Bob devoted time to include Harbor Interfaith Shelter and Boys and Girls Clubs of Wilmington.
Shepherding five children through the PV school district led Janet and Bob to become loyal supporters of the Peninsula Education Foundation. They attended the annual Main Event fundraiser for 10 straight years, and became Major Donors to support PVUSD. Pen High PEF Rep three years, Janet volunteered countless hours at Main Event over the years.
“Bob and I always felt it was very important to support our great PV school system. We believe our kids received a private school education at a public school price,” she said.
To illustrate the outstanding education received, Janet notes that all five Wolfenden kids continued on to the university level. Bob, Jr. graduated from UCLA, Julie from Loyola Marymount and Kris from UC Berkeley. Currently, Charlie is a junior at LMU and Liz is a freshman at USC. The couple is justifiably proud of the outstanding achievements of all of their children. They are a credit to our community and their children will, no doubt, follow in their footsteps. PEN