Named in 1972 after its original Maple Drive location, the nonprofit Maple Counseling Center celebrated its 50th anniversary with a “Tea and Tequila” afternoon high tea on the Garden Terrace at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on Oct. 23. The evening benefitted Maple Center’s mission, which is to provide low-cost comprehensive mental health services to adults, children, couples, and families, while also providing training for graduate and postgraduate students working towards licensure in the mental health field. The afternoon included Claridge’s teas and Casamigos tequila tastings, plus an awards presentation hosted by NBC4 news anchor and reporter, Robert Kovacik. Featuring Miss Universe Juri Watanabe as the keynote speaker, the event honored Judy Briskin and Rex Wilder with the Humanitarian Award, and Kristin and John Jameson with the Philanthropic Leadership Award. The program also provided a look ahead to the new developments at the center that will color the next 50 years.
“COVID, Black Lives Matter, a rise in hate crimes, school shootings – they affect us all, every single day,” Kovacik said. “Maple Counseling, with its new expanded services, will reach an even bigger community whose voices need to be heard. And the community needs to know that it is okay to not be okay.”
