It was a day filled with emotion, fashion, fun and fundraising to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Rosemont last week. Over 1500 people opened their hearts and wallets to attend the organization’s largest fashion show in the country produced by Tracey Tarantino of Zzazz Productions. Runway highlights included a holiday collection by Peach Carr (Project Runway’s Season 8 winner), Elda de la Rosa, Swaby, Nade Baer, Neiman Marcus, BCBG, Cusp, Escada, Talbot’s, Luca Luca, York Furrier and Lord & Taylor with accessories by Furla. During the show, 5 dancing Marilyn Monroe’s showcased sponsor Swarovski’s sparkling jewelry to wild applause.
“Dream a Little Dream” was the theme for the day and for the Brady family, no truer words were ever spoken. As host family, Anne and Michael Brady had uprooted their small family to relocate to Memphis, Tennessee, the home of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, after their 3 year old son Michael was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. On this day though, he was in true superhero form (Batman is his idol) and had a smile from ear to ear after receiving a gift basket containing his favorite Batman toys. In Anne’s heartfelt speech, she told the rapt audience that even her daughter Allie had taken her first steps at the hospital to the cheers and encouragement from the St. Jude staff.
St. Jude Executive Committee members, Cathy Shaker Breit, Ann Dwyer Danner, Toni Hasan and Terry Shaker, all worked long and hard to make this day a reality raising almost $340K along with event sponsors Camping World and Good Sam. Guests also enjoyed makeup and hair touch-ups from Trish McAvoy and Ultimate Hair as well as a wine tasting by The Naked Grape and a champagne reception. NBC’s Allison Rosati served as the event emcee and I was honored to serve as Honorary Chair.
(To learn more about this premier pediatric cancer center, please visit www.StJude.org). (Photos by Mila Samokhina and John Giesecke).
Filed under: St. Jude fundraiser
Tags: Allison Rosati, Ann Brady, Ann Danner Dwyer, Camping World, cancer center, Cathy Shaker Breit, Dream a Little Dream Fashion Show, Elda de la Rosa, Good Sam, Jesse White, Jessye Wright, Karen Peters, Kevin Dwyer, Larry Adams, Laurie Davis, Marget Graham, Michael Brady, Peach Carr, pediatric cancer hospital, Sheree Valukas, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Jude fashion show and luncheon, Swarovski, Terry Shaker, The Naked Grape, Toni Hasan, Tracey Tarantino, Trish McEvoy, Ultimate Hair, Wirtz Beverage, York Furrier, ZZazz Productions
