Two of the Co-Chairs: Melissa Lamkin & Debra Hall

There are two ways to plan for an efficiently successful new fundraising event. One, of course, is to have Vivanista plan it for you, but as a second alternative, you can also follow these basic guidelines, as exemplified by Melissa Lamkin, one of four co-chairs for a first-time fundraiser this past May. A fashion show, Girls Night Out: Glamour and Giving, raised funds for Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte, N.C. The non-profit provides housing for families with seriously ill or injured children, accommodating them while their child is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

No matter what the actual fundraising affair consists of, you should make sure that the event itself fits well into the fabric of the community. If there are other charitable fashion shows taking place locally, for example, go for something different. The chairs of Girls Night Out knew that there were various women-oriented events going on in other major North Carolina cities like Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and therefore decided to design an event that targeted a similar audience.

It is also very important to have as many inside connections as possible, such as with the venue that is hosting the event, or better yet, with the non-profit. Ari Harris, one of the co-chairs of Girls Night Out, worked for the Ronald McDonald House, and therefore was able to help spearhead the event, curving it to really mirror the goals and fulfill the needs of the non-profit, which should always be the number one priority. Connections with the venue, which Girls Night Out also had, is additionally very beneficial and can lead to discounts.

While accumulating donations is the main purpose of throwing a fundraising event, the money should not be the main focus of a first time event. Building up a well organized, fun event should be the main priority. Money will follow if the event is successfully entertaining for the donors. “One of the highlights that evening was when a mother staying at Ronald McDonald House thanked us for including her in the Fashion Show. She explained how her world centers around her child and it was nice, even for a few short hours, to lift that burden and make it about her”, Lamkin said.

Co-Chairs of Girls Night Out!

While Girls Night Out had over sixty-five volunteers, it’s expected that for a first time fundraiser, the chairs would be doing a majority of the work and therefore should not depend too heavily on volunteers. However, to avoid an overload of work for the chairs, it is important not to bite off more than you can chew. Start small; you can always layer on more facets at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th annual version of your event. It is always better to build up over time rather than starting with a huge goal and having to cut back or having something fall through.
And give yourself time! Six months should be the minimum for the amount of time it will take to plan a notable, enjoyable event. Lamkin told us, “We had enough time to execute our event in an organized fashion and we sold-out at around 300 attendees.”

As for Girls Night Out, Lamkin is looking forward to planning the next one, especially after such a successful first event. With ideas like having mothers from the Ronald McDonald House model on the runway, Lamkin and her co-chairs have designed, organized and hosted a unique yet relevant fundraiser for their community.

5 Easy Steps to Starting Your Own Fundraiser:

1. Do Your Research: Check the calendar for events that are going on in your community. Also, make sure this event does not compete with any other fundraisers the Nonprofit may already implement.

2. Set Goals: Be conservative and realistic as to what you want to accomplish. Remember to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)!

3. Rally the Troops: Get the Chair(s), subcommittee Chairs and volunteers in place and make sure they know what they’re supposed to accomplish.

4. Execute the Plan: Expect the unexpected at first time events! Unforeseen things will happen, but try to stay on track, keeping in mind your ultimate goals.

5. Follow-up: If you hope to do another one, make sure you thank everyone along the way and let them know how their participation helped your nonprofit.

Photos courtesy of Cunningham Photo Artists

The World Health Organization estimates that one billion people, including 100 million school children, need vision correction but do not receive treatment. These people remain disadvantaged in quality of life, employment and education prospects, productivity and general health because of lack of eye care. “Using the World Health Organization’s standard measure of the effect of a given health issue…, refractive error will rise into the top 10 global health issues affecting productivity and opportunities by 2030, passing HIV/AIDS in its global burden.” (Global Vision 2020). Something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses can change a person’s life as well as turn the tides of a global health concern.

Certain charitable organizations like Global Vision 2020 and Vision Aid Overseas, provide eye care services to the developing world with programs that include collection and redistribution of used eyeglasses to those in need. Some for-profit businesses have partnered with non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org, a charitable initiative dedicated to delivering reading glasses to the many underprivileged people worldwide, and Warby Parker, a producer of vintage inspired frames.

For every pair you buy at an eye-opening, incredible low price (US$95, which includes the prescription lenses), Warby Parker will distribute a pair to those in need as identified by non-profit organizations like RestoringVision.org. I’ve had to wear eyeglasses and corrective lenses for most of my life so I’ve seen some really good and bad frame designs over the years. These Warby Parker eyeglasses are undeniably spectacular, especially the bright colored Coltons (orange), which scream “these-are-so-not-your-grannies” reading glasses. This is clearly vintage and visionary!

Beginning with the farmers and ending with the final package arriving at your door, PACT strives to be as environmentally and socially responsible as possible. Their supply chain looks at the life cycle of the product from creation to distribution and all that goes in between such as the cotton, inks and dyes, transportation and packaging. Although PACT’s underwear is sustainable, it comes in more colors than green. These guys love color, they believe that ‘organic clothing doesn’t have to be that drab oatmeal color’. In addition to creating a sustainable product they donate 10% of the proceeds to non-profit partners such as The Green Belt Movement, ForestEthics, 826 National, Oceana, and Global Green USA. When you purchase PACT underwear, you are supporting and encouraging organic cotton farmers, responsible labor practices, and businesses that form partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to positive change in our world.

Vivanista had the opportunity to ask founders Jason and Jeff a few questions about how they got started and what imPACT they are trying to make with Underwear.

What was the catalyst for starting PACT?

Jason: Jeff and I went to grad school together at Berkeley, and it was actually a longstanding goal of mine to start a company whose foundation was built on sustainability and giving money back to organizations.

Jeff: And I wanted to build a socially responsible and sustainable underwear brand. We wound up marrying the two ideas in hopes that we could make something universal.

Jason: Underwear is a 365-day item, and after a lot of research we became convinced there was demand for a stylish and sustainable underwear brand. Nothing on the market at that time met the needs of consumers. When we met Yves [Behar] and he told us that he wanted to design our underwear, we knew we had to drop everything and start looking for money to fund what ultimately would become PACT.

Explain your philosophy “CHANGE STARTS WITH UNDERWEAR.”

Jason: Change starts at home. Changing the way you live and choosing to be more mindful in your life is a very personal decision. And the most personal change starts with your underwear. It’s a starting point to your day.

What imPACT do you wish to make/reduce with your products?

Jeff: Before we design a new print, we choose a target non-profit to receive 10% of the proceeds from sales of that print. We have worked with some truly amazing organizations — 826 National, Forest Ethics, Oceana, Global Green USA, and we most recently partnered with the Green Belt Movement. Once we’ve selected our non-profit partner for a campaign, we get to work on selecting an artist or designer whose vision matches up with the spirit of that organization.

Jason: From an impact reduction standpoint, our prints are created entirely within a 100-mile supply chain in Turkey. We use the excess fabric scraps to create a pouch to hold each pair in, and when someone places an order, they’re shipped in a compostable bag. We also include information about the factory our underwear is processed in on the label of each print, and explain details on the entire manufacturing process on our website. Our goal is first and foremost to give back, but in doing so we aim to be 100% transparent in what we’re making.

How do you select your beneficiary partners?

Jason: We try to be as diverse as possible in our choices, but ultimately they are all causes that excite us.

How do you empower others?

Jason: We’re excited to give people a lot of reasons to feel good about buying a pair of PACT underwear. On a very surface level, we’re proud of the product. They’re designed for comfort, made of organic cotton and the designs are really eye-catching. But beyond that, we want our customers to feel that the choices they make in purchasing something can matter in a real, measurable way. Knowing that a percentage of the money you’ve spent will be given directly to this cool non-profit that’s working to protect our oceans or provide writing workshops for schoolchildren should make most people feel pretty good.

Jeff: And by sharing the information we do on our manufacturing process and our supply chain, it gets consumers thinking about everything they buy. If consumers really want to be privy to that information, corporations will eventually be expected to deliver it. We’re not looking to expose any ugly truths about anyone’s manufacturing methods, but we would love to help push it to the point where that information is important enough to share.

Where do you see PACT in five years?

Jason: We would certainly be thrilled if we felt that consumers on the whole had access to information on the manufacturing process and supply chain of the majority of products in the marketplace, and to feel that we were a part of that change in how we consume as a culture and as a people.

Can you share one fun fact about your organization?

We sing in our office. A lot.

What are three words that best describe PACT?

Beautiful, gives back

Which design/fit is your favorite?

Jason Kibbey, co-Founder: Oceana Wave Solid Boxer Brief

Jeff Denby, co-Founder: Pink Polkadot Boxer Brief

Gunther Lie, Director of Marketing: Greenbelt Movement Boxer Brief.

Molly Doctors, Production Manager: Polkadot Boy Shorts

About PACT

PACT is the brainchild of two unlikely business partners who joined forces in the most unlikely of places.

Jason Kibbey is a born-and-raised Berkeley leftie who started his own land conservation nonprofit, drives a Prius, and loves his bike(s). He also likes business: he helped start a few, and oddly began his career at Bain & Company. His wife sings opera; they don’t own a television; and his dog gets acupuncture.

Jeff Denby, on the other hand, was told that he was “too artsy for business school” when he showed up with multi-colored hair. A Facebook, texting, and Twitter addict who personifies young, fabulous, and broke, this wayward Canadian has shopped his way around the world. He definitely owns a television.

[Photos from PACT]

This year, the “Rolls Royce of garage sales,” as it’s known—the event features merchandise from over two hundred prominent fashion designers, including Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Theory, and Diane von Furstenberg—takes place July 26; those who can’t attend the event in person can participate in the shopping for a cause through the QVC. Super Saturday was co-founded and has been underwritten every year by Donna Karan who, along with Charla Lawhon, Managing Editor of In Style magazine, and Kelly Ripa, will host the event in Water Mill, New York. Last year’s event raised over $3 million.

Vivanista wanted to find out, where does all that money go?

The OCRF, founded in 1998, is the nation’s largest nonprofit entity focused exclusively on funding research about ovarian cancer (most of the rest of the funding for research about this disease comes from the Cancer Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense). The monies raised by Super Saturday primarily become grants for research, both for younger researchers as well as senior investigators. “We support a range of researchers,” says Sarah DeFeo, the OCRF’s director of grants and programs. Since its inception, OCRF has given away 147 grants totalling $33 million. A small percentage of that funding is used for education and awareness. According to DeFeo, this is a relatively nascent field of research primarily because ovarian cancer is a relatively rare disease when compared to breast, prostate, and lung cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2009, there were 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer reported in the U.S., and 14,600 deaths equating to a 32% survival rate.  By comparison, last year in the U.S. there were 194,2800 new cases of breast cancer, and 40,610 deaths equaling a 79% survival rate.

It is, however, also a very tough cancer to overcome.  “It’s very appealing to researchers,” states DeFeo, “because there’s so much to do and because it’s so deadly.”

Because research is in the early stages, much is focused on learning about the disease—doctors still don’t know where it originates—and creating methods of early detection. “There currently are no means of detecting this disease early on, like a PAP smear does for cervical cancer or a mammogram does for breast cancer,” DeFeo states. “That’s one of the reasons it’s so severe; it only gets diagnosed in the late stages.”

DeFeo shared some of the exciting and very promising results OCRF–supported entities are achieving. In the area of early detection, one OCRF–sponsored researcher has discovered that small sugar molecules in the blood called glycans appear to distinguish between healthy women and those with ovarian cancer. A pilot test has shown that results using this method are superior to the current standard, indicating that we now have the potential for a diagnostic test based on a different biologic process than the current biomarkers used for ovarian cancer.

In the realm of increasing the ability to identify high-risk women, a group of OCRF–supported researchers have identified a new genetic abnormality that may significantly increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer; up to 15 percent of women may carry the flaw.

Additional researchers supported by OCRF are finding ways of understanding the underlying genetics and molecular biology of ovarian cancer (evidence suggests that most serious tumors designated “ovarian” may actually originate from the end of the fallopian tube), and one team is identifying new, better targets for treatment. Another investigator is focusing on how to boost a woman’s immune response with injections of immune cells engineered with modified T-Cell receptors so it can better fight ovarian cancer. And one researcher—because of his exploration into how and why ovarian cancer spreads, and how to stop it—was able to convince a pharmaceutical company to test a drug for ovarian cancer that was previously being developed only for colon and lung cancer.

DeFeo notes that the most critical aspect of making headway in treating ovarian cancer is continued support. “This is incremental research that takes years,” she says. “It’s a sustained effort.”

What better incentive does any woman need to sustain her love of fashion and get out there and shop!

Purchase your tickets to Super Saturday.

Find our more about the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

A Fashion Benefit Show Presented by History Starts Now

Date of Event: June 14^th, 2010

Location: Stone Rose Lounge

Name of volunteer organization: History Starts Now

Chair Name: Kristina Lee Grandstaff

Vivanista recently spoke with Entrepreneur, Ambassador, and Fashionista, Kristina Lee Grandstaff to find out more about her organization: History Starts Now, and her upcoming event: Fashion Gives Back.

What is it about Fashion Gives Back and History Starts now that made you willing to take on the role as event Chair?

I founded History Starts Now in 2008 after attending a Women’s Conference in New York City and hearing testimonies of young girls that had been trafficked in our own backyard, I knew I had to do everything I could to fight against this horrific crime. I rallied up a group of young philanthropists in my life and since our launch in April 2009, we have held awareness event and partaken in speaking engagements to educate individuals on the topic.

What will be special about Fashion Gives Back this year? Will there be any surprises?

There is nothing like pairing a mission with fashion in Columbus Circle! Our team is incredibly thankful to be hosting for the second year in a row at Stone Rose Lounge. We are working with an assortment of designers and wonderful sponsors. The fashion show itself is based on the theme “Just Beneath the Surface.” We are going to position male models on the stage to represent victims in bondage as chic female models walk the runway around them. This is meant to depict how most New Yorkers go about their daily routines unaware of this injustice going on right in our backyard. To complete the evening, we have Kat Rohrer, Producer of the documentary “Fatal Promises” showing her trailer. This is truly going to be an amazing year!

What constitutes success for you with regards to the fashion show?

Hoping that aside from the glitzy spring fashion show, individuals leave with a true call to action and realization that modern day slavery is the highest it has ever been. That there are children all around this world that are enslaved in bondage and it is going to take the help of everyone to make this injustice come to an end.

What are the greatest challenges you’ve had to face?

Child trafficking is a subject that many find hard to talk about. Getting people to open up to let us share the stories of victims at times has been challenging because many are so awful and horrific; it is often hard to hear them. Also deadlines have been a challenge! But by grace, we have an amazing team working together on our projects.

What can other Chairs learn from your experience?

I believe we can always learn and be sharpened so I truly love to learn from my mentors. Having a positive attitude is important and realizing that everyone is truly fighting their own battles, so I feel having heart and compassion to others is something I continually try to do. Lastly, perseverance, this is one of the most important ingredients in life.

Have you chaired other charitable events?  If so, please name them.

Yes, believe it or not, 11 other successful events in a year all for History Starts Now, including :

1.)    TCNJ Dancing with the Stars

2.)    New York City Launch, W Hotel

3.)    Georgetown Law, Washington D.C.

4.)    Redeemer School Carnvial

5.)    Fashion Gives Back 2009, Stone Rose Lounge

6.)    Live Jazz at Pranna

7.)    Salt and Light Art Gala, Philadelphia

8.)    City Lights Gala 2009, Aspen Social Club

9.)    For the Love of the Children, Flander’s Valley

10.) Fashion For Reform, Chicago

11.) Fashion For Freedom, Minneapolis

What are you wearing to the event?

I usually try to keep my wardrobe classic. A white dress, turquoise necklace and nude heels.

What is your fundraising motto?

“Leave a Legacy” (We are just tapping into the fundraising season.)

What qualities make an event Chair successful?

Compassion, Perseverance, Dedication, Passion, Heart

What external resources do you use in your fundraising efforts?

Website, Newsletter, Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

What is the best charitable event you’ve attended and why?

Charity: Water Ball. I learn so much watching the leadership of Founder Scott Harrison. He is such a humble down to earth man!

What fundraising innovation do you wish would be invented?

Twitter donations! Fundraising through social media done the right way can be very successful.

Favorite Quotations:

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”  -Audrey Hepburn

Sure, she was an Assistant City Attorney, developed Safeway’s heralded Affirmative Action program, co-founded the North Texas Food Bank, served four years as Ambassador to Austria, not to mention raising 4 children. But it is her long-term involvement in the wine industry – from running her family’s Mendocino-based winery for 10 years to now contributing to her and her husband, Craig’s, HALL Wines as Vintner, that represents her true calling.   So it came as no surprise that her response to our question of three words that best described her being “I work hard”.

The June 27^th Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser for Planned Parenthood will take place at the beautiful art-filled Hall Winery in St. Helena.  Kathryn’s commitment to the organization is quite personal. “Planned Parenthood plays a critical role in supporting healthy, wanted babies. Many years ago I was a PP patient so I have experienced the compassion of this great organization from the perspective of a receiver of services as well as a volunteer.”

“I only chair events for causes I am totally committed to. I can’t ask friends to support an event if I am not passionate about it myself.” added Kathryn.
Asked the goals of the event, she responded with three: 1. Raise lots of money; 2. Guests are reminded why Planned Parenthood is as important today as it was when it began; and 3. Folks have so much fun that they want to come back and give next year.

Great wine, great women and great shoes.  We agree with Kathryn Hall that those are the perfect fundamentals for what will surely be a great party. Click here for tickets.

Vivanista’s

Top 10 Reasons to come to Wine, Women & Shoes

1. Gather your best pals and spend a summer afternoon enjoying popular wines, shopping stylish fashions, and learning about the impactful work that PPSD is doing in your community.
2. David Eigenberg (Steve Brady from Sex and the City) in action on stage!
3. Moulin Rouge inspired Fashion show by Cake Plate, shoes by Kate Spade.
4. Sample over 50 Napa and Sonoma wines.
5. Charismatic Shoe Guys sporting silver trays of featured shoes.
6. A chance to win a “Key to the Closet” full of outfits, shoes, jewelry, personal shopping appointment, and much more!
7. Taste foods from over 20 famous Napa restaurants.
8. Peruse our Parisian-style marketplace with over 10 retailers selling designer shoes, handbags, and jewelry—a portion of sales will benefit PPSD.
9. Enjoy the romantic and unique historic barrel room at Hall Winery.
10. Support PPSD! Providing 161,000 client visits each year throughout 16 health centers in Northern California.

Planned Parenthood helps build healthy communities by providing life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment, along with many other health care services at low to no cost to individuals and families. Last year’s Wine, Women & Shoes raised over $200K for PPSD and the “fund-a-need” raised $60 k that supported the purchase of 2 new cervical cancer screening machines. Every day we supply women with the most sophisticated instrument in medicine: accurate information, which can help them make the best decisions about their health.

Style expert Amy Tara Koch was dwelling on the same problem, and with a toss of her maternity “fat pants,” decided to refocus her fashion-forward eye on clothing and accessory options for baby-bearers everywhere. With the release of her new book Bump it Up: Transform your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement, Koch is making what could be the frumpiest nine months of a woman’s life, totally fabulous!

As a trend reporter for NBC, Koch has also contributed to various publications such as Vogue, Town & Country, The New York Times, The Huffington Post and The New York Observer. Currently available in bookstores everywhere, Bump it Up gives rounding readers a new way to view what they already have in their closet. Instead of forcing pregnant women to revamp their wardrobes by going out and buying maternity wear, Koch advices focusing on accessories and layers that can be put together with clothing options one might not normally consider for their ever changing silhouette. She suggests having a basic uniform made of comfortable material such as jersey or stretchy Lycra, and using scarves and other flowy materials to layer on top, such as scarves or even old pool-side cover ups.

Giving advice for each trimester, Koch draws inspiration from celebrity mamas, such as the consistantly fashionable Heidi Klum and Gwen Stefani. Though she admits that not all expectant mothers are built like super models, with the right proportions any belly bearing woman can elongate and transform her silhouette. The first trimester is all about hiding the pre-bump developing baby weight with draping and layers, while a third trimester mommy should utilize her robust, ready-to-pop figures to empower herself by stepping out of her comfort zone, as if she isn’t already! Koch suggests glamming up one’s standard maternity-wear uniform with eye-catching statement accessories such as chunky belts or long necklaces.

In addition to giving clothing advice, Koch acknowledges the constant hormonal changes going on in each expectant mother and gives specific face-care tips to hide whatever dullness, dryness or blotchiness that may accompany these out-of-whack preggo-hormones. With such a big gift at the end of this nine-month journey, Koch wants every woman to feel glamorous and fresh, despite the tremendous physical changes. And with the help of Bump it Up, instead of feeling like a million pounds, expectant mothers can feel like a million bucks.

Listen up everyone! We are all beautiful! I ask you to always remember this even if you take nothing else on board from this column.

We all have some great features as well as having a few not-so-great features. And as you’ve heard from me before, there are as many ways to accent the areas you love and as there are to mask the ones you are not so fond of.

If you’re a model, putting on two pounds is a definite no-no. In real life, however, our weight fluctuates within a couple of pounds and that is just a reality. That said, there is a plateau that we should strive to never cross. It’s your choice and thus your responsibility to set the bar to a realistic level that is easy to attain and maintain.

Of course we must eat healthily and exercise daily but we can also let our wardrobe do a little of the hard work for us. We already know that colors and fit can accentuate our best features and/or help conceal our flaws. Since dark colors are slimming, why not use navy, black, brown and charcoal to camouflage our not-so-great features?

Fortunately, slimming undergarments today are not what they used to be. Slimmers and shapers now are comfortable to wear and will mask our pesky bumps and bulges. There are even tops and dresses lined with hidden power-mesh control panels that instantly smooth and sculpt the body.

Avoid shiny and highly textured fabrics, as they make one look bulky. Also avoid tight clothes. As I have preached many times before, clothes must fit properly. Unfortunately women panic about the number on their garments. Would you buy shoes a size smaller just to suit your vanity? Of course not! If you are a bit round, the good news is that plus-size clothing has become chic and trendy as the average American woman now wears a size 14. The bad news is that haute couture houses like Chanel don’t design clothes over size 12. But if you can afford the price tag of such high-flying designers, then why not consider custom-made pieces that would be unique, flattering and suit your body perfectly?

If you are a little wide in the thighs, don’t worry. Just balance your silhouette by accentuating your shoulders. Go for a dress that is fitted through the waist while skimming over your less loved lower half. If your shoulders are narrower than your hips opt for a boat-neck top as this will balance out the shoulders and the hips. A small shoulder pad would not hurt either.

If you are among the women who have broad shoulders, I consider you very fortunate, as I believe they are extremely attractive. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise! Focus on those beautiful shoulders by wearing asymmetrical necklines. However, you must stay away from shoulder pads or puffy sleeves. And if you also have great firm upper arms, halter-tops should be at the top of your list for summer, as well as V-necks or wrap-style dresses.

If you have a smaller bust, chances are that most trends look great on you already. But there are those of us who could use a little extra volume in that area. There are many ways to enhance un petit buste by cheating just a little. Visit a lingerie specialist in any department store or better yet, support your local lingerie retailer. Embellishments, pleats or ruffles in the bust area are your best friends. Accentuate your waist by wearing a belt. This will not only emphasize a small waist but also highlight the added details at the top of the garment. And if you are long-waisted, wear wide belts.

Even with a daily regimen of biceps and triceps toning, beautiful youthful upper arms are rare once we get older. The good thing is that we can at least hide those floppy upper arms–one of my clients calls them “Kimono Arms” which I find very funny and descriptive–unlike our hands or face that we can’t exactly cover up. I can hear you say: “But Michele, look at those gorgeous sleeveless dresses all around us.” You’re right. But my answer to this is, “Wear them with a lovely light cardigan or a cropped jacket. And when in the privacy of your own space flaunt the sleeveless dress, but remember to grab that cardigan when in company.” Don’t think you can’t be sexy if you cover your upper arms. Look for ballet tops with three-quarter sleeves and a low décolleté in the back.

A la prochaine!
Michèle

[Photo from Flickr by The Art Institute of Portland]

Volunteers from the charitable fundraising organization are the models, giving this fun event a festive community feel.  Guests can shop for their favorite fashion show items, providing an additional revenue opportunity.

HOW IT WORKS

• An e-commerce partner(s) provides the handbags and accessories and underwrites the fashion show production
• A champagne partner donates the champagne
• Models are selected and the fashion show is planned
• A pre-event launch party is set for a month prior to the event to thank Benefactors and encourage others to become Benefactors
• The Fashion Show includes runway seating
• Following the Fashion Show guests can purchase handbags and accessories from selected vendors

REVENUE

Ticket sales:

• Regular priced ticket: $75
• Benefactor ticket: $150

On-site sale of accessories:

• Vendor donated 20% of any purchases to the charitable organization

Raffle or Auction:

• A coveted high-end handbag
• A piece of jewelry

DETAILS

Audience: Women

Volunteers: Moderate

• Models: 10 – 15
• Tickets: 2
• Promotion: 1
• Finance: 1
• Production: 2 – 4
• Auction/Raffle: 2 – 5
• Partner relations: 2
• On-site volunteers: dependent on # of expected attendees
  • Security: 2
  • Check-out: 3
  • Restocking: 2
  • Clean-up: 4

Estimated Profit: $20,000+

• Ticket sales: 200 attendees at $75/each = $15,000
• Accessories sales: 100 items sold at $250 x 20% donation = $5,000
• Corporate Sponsors: 5 at $1,000 minimum = $5,000

Major Costs: Venue, catering, marketing

Level of effort: Moderate

Planning Cycle: 6 – 9 months

HOW VIVANISTA CAN HELP

Download for Free

• Budget template
• Committee formation tips
• Timeline
• Job descriptions
• Solicitation letter to corporate sponsors
• Graphic design
• Event invitation
• Final Report

Premium Program: Vivanista provides event management for fee

• All templates and guides as listed above in a ‘Chair Bible’ binder
• Pre-event
  • Creative direction
  • Credit card processing set-up
  • Develop partnership(s) with vendors
  • Help with selection of models
  • Marketing including graphic design, and social media marketing
  • Interface with volunteer committee
  • On-site event
    • Oversee event volunteers
    • Manage logistics
    • Coordinate disposition of inventory at the end of the event
  • Post-event
    • Final Report
    • Revenue reconciliation
  • Cost: Depends on scope of work and timeframe.  Minimum of $5,000 + expenses.

SUMMARY

Bags, Baubles & Bubbly is a fun community-oriented fundraiser that has potential to become a must-attend annual event and generate substantial revenue.