Teaching + Business + Volunteering + Travel + Art = Life Hallmarks
Bombs exploded in the American embassies in Dares Salam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya as Beverly Jewell White ’50 landed in neighboring Kampala, Uganda as a volunteer with a Rotary Polio Corrective Surgery Team. When the team walked to the American Embassy to register, an armed guard ordered them to return to the U.S. They didn’t. Instead, the team spent three weeks performing surgeries on polio-disabled children, enabling them to walk. After the team’s work in Uganda, they went on to perform the same surgeries in India, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
Giving back has been a major hallmark of Beverly’s life. In all, through Rotary and personal trips, she has visited 82 countries.
While at SHS she served on her class executive committee and on Student Council as Vice President. She was Copy Editor of the Scarlet S yearbook and a member of the Glee Club, Speech Club, Spanish Club, Choir, Girls Athletic Association and was a delegate to Buckeye Girls State.
After graduating she went to Ohio Wesleyan University before transferring to The Ohio State University. Upon receiving her degree, she was recruited by the Downey, California superintendent of schools who was scouting the Midwest for newly minted teachers with a spirit of adventure and who were willing to journey to his rapidly growing school district.
Soon after starting as a second grade teacher, Beverly launched a lifetime of community involvement. She became chairwoman of the Downey Symphony and took a seat on the board of the local library. Later she launched the first bi-lingual, bi-cultural program for elementary students in the Los Angeles area.
Upon entering the business world, she has worked for 40 years as one of the top realtors in Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach.
In the 1980s while making many trips to Haiti, Beverly became interested in collecting Haitian art. This resulted in opening her art gallery in Laguna Beach. She also has lectured on Haitian art to non-profit organizations such as Rotary and the Kiwanis. She has a large collection of Haitian art that she plans to donate to the UCLA Fowler Museum.
Beverly continues serving on the boards of such non-profits as the Corona Del Mar Residents Association, the Hutchins Consort, the Historical Committee, and the Girl’s Self Esteem program that mentors more than 400 disadvantaged girls.
Observes a fellow alum “Bev’s reservoir of energy and compassion seems bottomless as she continues working for the greater good.”
Beverly lives in Corona Del Mar, California.