Fundraisers & Friends By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
Andrea Sala and Laura Schenasi have been bonded since high school when they passed the baton to each other during the 440 relay at Palos Verdes High School. After they each went to college, they returned to the community and reconnected. Now, three decades later, the two are still close friends, both finding ways to serve the community.
Party @ Laura’s home
Sala and Schenasi’s families have a unique multigenerational bond. Their mothers were good friends, a connection that helped Sala when her own mother passed away.
“When my mom died, and then when Laura and I reconnected, her mom was always my cheerleader,” Sala says. “I think she did it because she was channeling my mom. Her mom, I think, was speaking for my mom, because every time I saw her, she would just make me feel like I was the most wonderful person in the world.”
45 year High School Reunion
Sala and Schenasi’s children now have had the opportunity to grow up together, attending events like National Charity League alongside one another.
“Professionally and personally, our families are close,” Sala says. “They've done things over the years, like USC football games and tailgate parties and all kinds of fun things. We do concerts in the park in the summer.”
USC Tailgate
Sala and Schenasi have something else in common — they both work in fundraising. Sala has been fundraising for El Camino Community College for the past decade, and Schenasi has been fundraising at Torrance Memorial for nearly 25 years as the executive vice president of the Torrance Memorial Foundation.
Schenasi’s fundraising experience dates back to her time at USC, where she worked in the university events office. She eventually worked in fundraising for the USC Keck School of Medicine.
“That is where I found my passion in raising money for healthcare and learned about grateful patients and stewardship and solicitations,” Schenasi says.
USC Tailgate
When she learned that Torrance Memorial was hiring, she was interested in taking on the role. She came in with “blazing saddles,” determined to boost fundraising for the foundation.
“I said we have to get in front of these people. We have to show grateful patients. We have to have doctors talking about what they're doing, and you have to continually show appreciation,” Schenasi says. “Hand write thank you notes. Follow up with people. Don't only call them when you want a donation. Check in on people. And I think one beautiful thing at Torrance Memorial is we can really help people in their time of need. We can help raise money, and people see the impact it has in their community.”
Andrea’s birthday celebration
Sala’s path into fundraising was slightly different. After starting her career in public relations and marketing, she stayed at home for 10 years and focused on volunteering while her children were young. She got involved in the Parent Teacher Association and the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF). Eventually, she became executive director of the PEF for 14 years, helping the organization ramp up to $3.4 million per year in funds raised.
Then, someone at El Camino called with an executive director position there. She decided to take it.
“Laura is my mentor, because she is an amazing fundraiser,” Sala says. “I channel her often when I'm talking to my board or meeting with donors. She really has been a great friend.”
Both Sala and Schenasi have found success in their respective roles. Sala has boosted El Camino’s annual fundraising from $1 million to $7 million. When Schenasi started at Torrance Memorial, they were raising $500,000 each year. Now, they raise about $20-25 million each year, with one year reaching a massive $67 million.
Schenasi says the key to their success is simple: relationships. Both Sala and Schenasi are always on the clock, interacting with people in the community and cultivating the relationships they have made with people.
For both Sala and Schenasi, their jobs are about the people they help with the money they raise.
“I always tell people that Laura is saving lives, but sometimes I feel like I'm saving lives too, because a lot of our students need that help,” Sala says. “Even though a lot of our scholarships are only $1,000 for our students, that $1,000 means they can stay in school versus they have to go find a job, and it helps them with their books. And they also always tell me that it makes them feel like somebody really believes in them when they get a scholarship.”
And Sala and Schenasi are not done yet. Sala is working toward expanding the scholarship program at El Camino to provide more assistance to students.
“I want to work with our community to develop the workforce of the future, and that's what we're doing at El Camino, because many of our students will stay here in the community,” Sala says. “My goal is to make more people in the South Bay know what we do at El Camino and know it's a good place to be for education.”
Schenasi also sees growth for Torrance Memorial. As Torrance Memorial celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, she hopes to see the hospital’s longevity continue.
“I never want to lose sight of the goal, which is to care for our community and be here for everybody,” Schenasi says. “Every person who comes to our emergency department we treat, regardless of the ability to pay. Without our health, we can't do anything in life. We can't be educated, we can't help others, we can't do anything. So I want to make sure that Torrance Memorial stays as strong as it is now and gets stronger in the future so we are here for the next 100 years to take care of our community.”
Sala and Schenasi have plans outside of work, too. The friends look forward to spending time with grandchildren, and once they eventually retire, you might just find them volunteering together as cuddlers in the NICU at Torrance Memorial.
Until then, Sala and Schenasi are going to keep working to leave a positive impact on the community.
“Laura and I are both saving lives every day in our different roles, and I think we both really love it, and that's why it's not really a job,” Sala says. “People keep asking me when I'm going to retire. Why would I retire? I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I love our donors and the friendships that I've made over the years.”
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.
