Palm Aire Women's Club raises funds for charity with Passion for Fashion

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.