75th Anniversary Celebration – Los Angeles Links Inc.

Celebrating 75 Years of Community Service.

All Aboard for the Los Angeles Chapter’s Friendship Train, Sisterhood Square, Boarding now from Track 75

Destination:

75-year historical retrospective depicting the friendship and community service of the Los Angeles Chapter…

First Stop- Founder’s Junction:

In 1950, as the Links expanded beyond the East Coast, Rheba Butler and Dr. Vada Sommerville organized a group of 18 women to plan the formation of a Los Angeles Chapter of The Links, installed as the 23^rd Chapter, first on the West Coast, on September 16^th, 1950.

Second Stop-Civic Duty Road:

In 1952, a permanent Link service project based on friendship through service was established to raise money for programs to serve inner city children. That project was the LA Links Cotillion.

The chapter’s first philanthropic act was the purchase of an NAACP life membership, making the LA Chapter the first one in the Link’s National Organization to fulfill the requirement of the national project. The third Cotillion, an elegant Dinner Dance, was held at the Statler Hotel, formerly the downtown LA Hilton. This Third Cotillion set the pattern that continues today—a strictly formal event, with Cotillionettes in white, formal gowns and gloves. This tradition of glamor and beauty continues today. In 1961, the Los Angeles Links became part of Camelot. Carol Cole was one of the Cotillionettes, and President John F. Kennedy and California Governor, Pat Brown, friends of Maria and Nat King Cole, greeted the debutants and Chapter members.

2019 earmarked the formal organization of the Los Angeles Cotillion Guild, serving over 1,600 former Debutants from Cotillions from 1952-2023 who have become successful community leaders and contributing citizens.

Third Stop-Community Service Avenue:

In response to ever changing community needs, the Cotillion Program has evolved to reflect the 5 Service Areas of The Links, Incorporated, and transitioned into “The Leadership Institute and Cotillion Program”, serving as an Umbrella Program for the Chapter that is a response to the chapter’s Strategic Plan, addressing the needs of Youth STEM to STEAM, National Society of Black Engineers, Jr., Adult Literacy, Housing and Hunger, Black Kidney Care and Black Family Health Awareness, Voter Registration, African Water Wells, in addition to support for the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA).

Community recognition has been documented through Scholarship contributions for the:

50^th Anniversary-UCLA Endowment for African American Graduate Students in community service
60^th Anniversary-Arts Retrospect Project-supporting Arts in the community
70^th Anniversary-Charles R Drew Endowment to support Black Female Medical Students

The Los Angeles Chapter has received numerous awards and recognitions over the past 75 years for its continued support of the Los Angeles community’s at-risk populations, focusing on community development and filling necessary gaps in service, as recently as the 2025 Fires. Since 1950, Los Angeles Chapter Members have provided over half a million hours of community service through our community outreach and Facet programs.

Final Stop- Call to Action Boulevard:

“Get on Board the Friendship Train”

Plan to attend the Los Angeles Chapter celebratory event!

Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11:30 am-3:00 pm

Beverly Hilton Hotel

9876 Wilshire Blvd

Beverly Hills, CA 90210