Saturday night was the annual and Ovations for the Cure Night of the Monarch Gala featuring a shoe designer Stewart Weitzman fashion show.
This night everyone came out in the glitz and glam to help raise money for the silent killer that is Ovarian Cancer. Ovations for the Cure raises money for research, does outreach programs to raise women’s awareness of this disease.
The cocktail hour consisted of red carpet arrivals while soft harp music played in the background. Guests sipped on Ovations signature turquoise martini’s and helped themselves to aperitifs like fresh oysters. The silent auction consisted of items like blown glass vases, golf clubs, designer jewelry and memorabilia like a signed Hannah Montana poster.
Around eight we headed into the ballroom for a lively performance by the Tufts University Amalgamates who sang three selections “Battlefield,” Wayward Son, and “Give me one more chance”. Then soup was on as we listened to notable speakers such the passionate three-time cancer survivor Joyce Kulhawik, and the first Awareness award recipient 16-year-old ovarian cancer survivor Molly Mcgaffigan who has helped to raise over $8,000 for Ovations. But the most touching of the speakers was when Paul Flaherty, President of Ovations for the Cure who is the successor to its founder, his wife, Patricia Franchi Flaherty who lost her battle with the disease a little over a year ago. His message was clear,”One in 71 women will get ovarian cancer, if you were that one what would you want in place for you, so you fight a winning battle.”
Ovations President Paul Flaherty
What I admire the most about Ovations for the Cure is their stance that this is an attainable goal, that through research and knowledge the eradication of this very quiet and deadly disease can be curable can be stopped in its tracks. There were no tears shed, only hope and optimism.
Guest auctioneer midday newscast WCB-TV’s anchor woman Susan Wornick for helped us segue into the auction portion of the evening was. She proved to be the perfect choice as she was charming while prodding to get that extra cash. She even incited one woman to up her bid by saying “Your dress costs more than $1500 you can give more than that!” Hilarious. Hot ticket items were Celtic Tickets and a watch that had after a bidding war went for $1900.
Jardin one of my favorites
Next up was what we all had been waiting for the fashion show. Our catalogues included the inventory of the pieces my favorites were Jumbo in Ruby Satin and Jardin in black satin.
The night ended with an invite to dance the rest of the night away with The White Heat Swing Orchestra.
Ovations message is such an important one. Ovarian cancer is silent; ladies listen to your bodies and if you think something is wrong, always get a second opinion. If detected early it can be treated.
Stay healthy. Stay Fab!
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- Joyce Kulhawik
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- President of Ovations Paul Flaherty
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- 16-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Molly McGaffigan
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- Auctioneer Susan Wornick
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- Jumbo Ruby Satin
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- Jardin Black Satin
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- The White Heat Swing Orchestra
This is a good piece of writing, I was wondering if I could use this post on my website, I will link it back to your website though. If this is a problem please let me know and I will take it down right away.
by Jerold Nerlich