MARY KLINGENSMITH RECEIVES JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LONG BEACH’S HIGHEST HONOR

“The success of a community is dependent upon the contributions of its citizens.” -- Mary Klingensmith

May 17, 2010 (LONG BEACH, Calif)---the Junior League of Long Beach (JLLB) will honor Mary Klingensmith with its highest honor, the Helen D. Newcomb Award, at the Annual Awards and Installation Banquet to be held May 19^th, 2010, at the Long Beach Marriott.

The Helen D. Newcomb Award was established in 1996 to honor Helen Newcomb, who served in 1931-1932 as the first president of JLLB. This award is given annually to a member who embodies the League’s mission and serves as a role model and mentor to other members.

Mary Klingensmith grew up in Bell, California, and received her B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. Mary and her husband, Bill Klingensmith, have lived in Bixby Hills since 1973. They have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. When she is not volunteering or working professionally, she loves gardening and baking. She was dubbed “The Chocolate Lady,” for her famous chocolate desserts by none other than Helen Newcomb.

As a resident of Long Beach for 53 years, Mary’s commitment to the community has been enduring and far reaching. She started teaching in LBUSD after receiving her teaching credential at CSULB. She was a teacher, a counselor and a research assistant at the district office for 13 years. She has been a successful real estate broker with Robert Weil Associates and currently Coldwell Banker Coastal Alliance. 

Her volunteer career with the Junior League began in 1963, where she rose quickly to leadership positions and served as President in 1970-71. She remains active with Junior League on the Sustainer Council and as an advisor to the Board of Directors, along with other various projects and committees.

Long Beach has benefited from Mary’s leadership in a wide variety of areas from education, to the arts, youth and health care. She served on the Long Beach Community Hospital Board for 15 years, eventually presiding as the first woman president of that formerly “male only” Board. She is a member and past president of The Long Beach Cancer League and past president of the Long Beach Chapter of American Cancer Society. She was a founding member and past president of Steel Magnolias, a support group for the Stramski Developmental Center at Miller Children’s Hospital. She is also past president of the UCLA Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae.

Her community organization memberships include Cameo, a professional auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach; Phoenix, a support group for the Long Beach Museum of Art; she is a 12 year member of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation and currently sits on its Todd Cancer Institute Board. Other volunteer service includes the Long Beach Symphony Board and Guild, and the Children’s Dental Foundation. Mary’s enduring community service includes Mayor’s Blue Ribbon City Charter Task Force. In 1991 she was named Rick Racker Woman of the Year.

Current president of Junior League of Long Beach, Jennifer Blanchard said, “Mary Klingensmith exemplifies the mission of the Junior League of Long Beach. Through her many volunteer activities she continues to demonstrate the qualities of an outstanding community volunteer and leader while remaining actively involved as a member of JLLB. Mary is so deserving of this honor and the JLLB is fortunate to have such an inspiring woman among us.”

The Junior League of Long Beach is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Long Beach was founded in 1931. For more information, visit www.jllb.org.