A charitable fundraising event supported by Designing Women’s Boutique, Sarasota’s premier non-profit consignment boutique, was co-produced by Lauren Walsh and sponsored in part by Bernard Walsh of the Sarasota Injury Law Firm Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni, & Walsh. DWB is a Sarasota 501C 3 charitable organization, and has donated over 1,500,000.00 in merchandise and grants since 2002.
The Designing Women’s 2013 Gala – ‘Designed to Give’ event raised money to support grants for Arts and Social services. The Gala was held at the Asolo Repertory Theatre with a dinner after the show at the Treviso Restaurant by the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida.
The main attraction and theme for the performance was a 1930’s supper club, featuring performing arts from both featured grant recipients and enthusiastic volunteers. Featured performances included grant recipient West Coast Black Theatre, singer Nate Jacobs, the amazing quick change act from the Sarasota Circus, the Player's Kids, the Spotlight Kids and the Sarasota Ballet. Ballroom dancers and students from the music school also participated in the fundraiser performance.
Models in the event included many from the Sarasota community including Hayley Wielgus from ABC 7, professional singer Sheri Nadelman, Dr. Anne Elisabeth Chauvet from Critical Care & Veterinary Specialists, and Hillary Steele, President of the Sarasota Ballet, just to name a few.
Co-producer Lauren Walsh also participated in the event, performing as Lola - who did a big welcome, and also as a retired film star, owner of the juice joint, who set the mood for the upcoming acts.
The grand finale of the performance included showgirls performing to ‘We’re In The Money’ and prop money falling actually from the ceiling.
Lauren Walsh, part of the ambassadors, a group within the organization that volunteer their time to events, had this to say about the event, “I am proud to be associated as an Ambassador with DWB and to have the opportunity to work with a group of people who support our community! We do have a saying at DWB, "it takes a village," and we enjoy giving back! I get to help make a difference!”
Co-sponsor, Bernard F. Walsh added, “as an attorney in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, our firm deals with all sorts of difficult and stressful situations on a day to day basis, while protecting our client's interests. This has made the opportunity to help support the local arts an even more rewarding and enjoyable experience. The evening was a great success made even better knowing that the money raised will be used to enrich our area by supporting the local arts organizations and the individuals who are part of them.”
About Designing Women Boutique & Estate Services
Designing Women Boutique was conceived as a way to create an ongoing revenue stream to benefit the community - an alternative to the one day or night events that populate the Sarasota social calendar. The business is ran by Business Development Director Pamela Day, supported by a corps of talented, committed volunteers and staff, and a committed Board of Trustees.
More at: http://www.designingwomenboutique.org
About Personal Injury Attorney Bernard F. Walsh
Bernard Walsh is an active member of the Manatee and Sarasota Sheriff’s Advisory Boards, the Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council and the One Hundred Club for Law Enforcement in Manatee.
A managing partner at the Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law firm of Shapiro Goldman Babboni and Walsh, Bernard Walsh has helped hundreds of Floridians get fair compensation for injuries. Additionally Bernard Walsh has won one of Florida's largest motorcycle accident recoveries and maintains a 10 out of 10 Superb rating on AVVO, a doctors and attorneys ratings website.