Holiday Homes Tour helps cancer patients, families

By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers A DELIGHTFUL TOUR-Amy West of Thousand Oaks and her sister, Barb West, admire the Hanukkah decorations in an Agoura Hills home that was featured in the Wellness Community's 13th annual Holiday Homes Tour fundraiser. Last weekend's annual event helps the organization serve cancer patients and their families. The above home was decorated for both Hanukkah and Christmas, representing the family's diverse background. The drive generated $118,000 last year.

The Wellness Community’s 13th annual Holiday Homes Tour fundraising event attracted thousands of participants who lined up to view lavishly decorated homes in Conejo Valley/Las Virgenes last weekend.

But while visitors enjoyed the opportunity to view the homes featured in the tour, they were also donating to a good cause. All proceeds from the tour and a portion of the proceeds from a boutique held during the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura’s fundraiser will go to support the organization’s programs, which help cancer patients and their families though education and hope.

A final tally on attendance and proceeds hasn’t been announced yet, but organizers expected good results; last year’s tour netted $118,000, according to a spokesperson for Wellness Community.

Diana Malmquist, a volunteer at the organization, organized the first tour, and the idea grew to become the Wellness Community’s signature fundraising event. It now attracts thousands of guests and involves the help of hundreds of volunteers, who this year assisted in the self-guided tour of four private homes.

Sylvia Dyck, a cancer patient who was volunteering at the event, was thrilled to be part of the experience. She was grateful for all the people who showed up to support the fundraiser because the organization has helped her cope with the disease, she said.

This year’s tour featured two homes that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Greg and Rhonda Greenstein’s home in Agoura Hills was themed "Holiday Lights, Hanukkah Nights," to represent the family’s diverse background. The kitchen was decorated with Mark Roberts’ "The Twelve Days of Christmas" fairy collection, and the upstairs loft showcased a collection of menorahs and treasured gifts. The living room featured a billiard table transformed into an elegant holiday buffet table ready to serve the family and their friends during the season. The turkey displayed on the table was especially prepared for the tour and it was shown frozen with ice inside so that it would not spoil.

Rhonda Greenstein and her mother-in-law have been taking the tour for years. "It’s always been a special day and the Wellness is a fabulous organization," she said, adding it was appropriate timing for the family to open their home for the event because someone in their extended family was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Greenstein is a full-time mom as well as a home and office decorator.

"Santa’s Workshop," which depicted an outdoor scene with elaborate lighting and Santa on his sleigh with reindeer, was the highlight of another of the tour’s homes. "The Enchanted Castle" featured lush rose gardens, a koi fish pond, themed Christmas trees and a large collection of modern art. And "Home for the Holly Days" showcased another celebration of both Christmas and Hanukkah, featuring a large Christmas tree and blue Hanukkah stockings.