The Passion for Fashion show, the Palm Aire Women's Club's biggest fundraiser of the year, took place Feb. 13 at the Palm Aire Country Club. Katherine Pike, Susan Romine and Kay Kwenski's last looks from Darci's boutique are cocktail attire.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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Eight models might have been walking the runway, but it was all the members of the Palm Aire Women's Club who deserved to take a collective bow for the Passion for Fashion fundraiser.
Because of their work, six students will receive scholarships to the State College of Florida (four) and Manatee Technical College (two) while five local charities that support women and children in need will also receive funds from the event, which was held Feb. 13 at Palm Aire Country Club.
Although the club hasn't announced its grant recipients for this year, last year the organizations that benefitted were Baby Basics of Sarasota County, Inc., Foundation For Dreams and Dream Oaks Camp, Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness, Mothers Helping Mothers, Mark Wandall Foundation, Second Chance Last Opportunity, and Hope Family Services Inc.
Meg Garofalo, the publicity chair for the club, said it is important to the members that they donate to small and independent charities because those charities are more reliant on the funds compared to bigger corporations.
"Every cent that we make goes into those charities and scholarships," Garofalo said. "We're not one of the ones that take 30% or give out 10%. One hundred percent of what we make goes to the charities."
"It's a nice balance because we're all supporting each other out here," said Barb Price, the vice president of Baby Basics of Sarasota County. "There's so many ways that our community donates, and what a fun way to do this."
Eight models each wore three outfits as part of the show — one casual, one dressy and one cocktail outfit. All of the clothes, accessories and jewelry were presented by Darci's boutique of Sarasota.
"It's amazing, it's fun, it's energetic," said Katherine Pike, one of the models. "It's a wonderful thing that we're doing to help the charities."
The Palm Aire Women's Club was founded in 1958 and has over 160 members.
Pat Reinhart adds a touch of fun to her denim outfit by swinging the silver purse around as she models the look by Darci's boutique.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Allyson Galuska models a cocktail dress by Frank Lyman and carried by Darci's boutique.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Carolann Garafola, charities chair for the Palm Aire Women's Club, says she gets stopped regularly when wearing clothes from Darci's boutique. She says she loves the variety of fashion from the "bling bling" to more casual outfits.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Katherine Pike describes the event as amazing, fun and energetic and is glad to do her part to help the charities that will benefit from the fundraiser.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Barb Price, the vice president of Baby Basics of Sarasota County, Inc., says it is important to come together and help communities in need.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Rhonda Calahan, the founder of Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness, is one of the models in the Passion for Fashion show. Her organization is one of the charities the Palm Aire Women's Club has shown support for.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Susan Romine greets the audience members as she models an animal print look during the Passion for Fashion show.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sandy Keir, president of the Palm Aire Women's Club, says she has modeled for over 25 events with Darci Jacob, who owns Darci’s boutique and provided all of the clothes in the fashion show. Everything the models were wearing were for sale.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Katherine Pike, the first model in the show, puts the final touches on her hair and makeup before putting on her first outfit of the A Passion for Fashion show.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Pat Reinhart models a blue and white look by Darci's boutique during the Passion for Fashion show for the Palm Aire Women's Club.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sandy Keir, president of the Palm Aire Women's Club, gives flowers to Donna Quilici-Smith, the vice president and chair of the fashion show, to thank her for organizing the event.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Darci Jacob, owner of Darci's boutique, provided the outfits the models wore from her store and described each outfit and model as they showed what they were wearing. Everything they modeled was for sale.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sandy Keir, president of the Palm Aire Women's Club, introduces herself to Danielle Gladding, a board member of the State College of Florida Foundation. Gladding says she loves the club's mission and used to be a member of the country club so she feels she is at home.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sally Reed, a member of Palm Aire Women's Club for over 10 years, models her last outfit in the show which is a two piece sequined look.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
