About The Luminaires Juniors

In 1974, the Doheny Eye Institute’s Board of Directors called upon Mrs. Gordon B. Crary, Jr. to organize a support group to assist the Doheny Eye Institute, through fundraising and volunteer participation and help improve the lives of those afflicted with eye problems.

Crary selected twenty women to serve on the Advisory Committee that would be responsible for building and guiding this budding entity within Doheny.

Shortly there after, Mrs. Crary hosted lunch for those women at the California Club in Downtown Los Angeles. The Committee fittingly dubbed themselves The Luminaires, which means “givers of light.” The logo was created, bylaws were drawn up, and by 1976 the Advisory Committee was activated, with Crary serving as President.

With the growth of the Luminaires came an added enhancement; the formation of The Luminaires, Juniors. Founded in 1976, by Mrs. Jeffrey N. Gardner, the group was originally made up of daughters and daughters-in-law of members. A few years later, The Luminaires, Juniors held their first party, a dinner dance at the New London Club. However, sensing the need for separate missions, the two groups convened in 1991 and with approval from Doheny’s Board of Directors a decision was made for the Luminaires, Juniors to become their own entity supporting vision research at the Doheny Eye Institute.

The fundraising activities of The Luminaires, Founders, Juniors and Orange County, which has raised over 6 million dollars for the Doheny Eye Institute, has varied over the years to include galas, fashion shows, murder mystery nights and west coast premiers of Broadway show openings. The group is known for hosting spectacular events that, for some, are the year’s social highlight.