Inaugural PACE Guild Event – Silhouettes of Style – 2009 Luncheon & Fashion Show – Raised More Than $100,000 for PACE
BELLEVUE, WA (April 10, 2009) – Just one year after forming in April 2008, the Act Two Guild of over 30 women launched its first event at The Westin Bellevue on Friday, April 3rd to a sold-out crowd of nearly 360 people. Silhouettes of Style – 2009 Luncheon & Fashion Show, to benefit Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), dazzled with pre-luncheon modeling and a reception, followed by a fully-choreographed, 30-minute spring runway fashion show, the highlight of the day. By the end of the event, the Guild had raised over $100,000 for PACE.
The fundraising focal point of the event to benefit the Campaign For PACE was the Fund-A-Need presentation for the Star Lounge Furnishings Fund, which raised more than $30,000. As explained during the luncheon by John Haynes, executive director and CEO of PACE, the Star Lounge will be a beautifully decorated room in which donors and patrons can interact with artists and entertainers behind-the-scenes in a comfortable "living room" setting. "We designed this luxury space as an evocative atmosphere for small group discussions related to arts, education, business, or philanthropic issues," says Haynes. The funds will be dedicated to furnishing the Star Lounge, which will be located off the Main Lobby of the future performing arts center, adjacent to both the Main Stage and the Headliner Suite.
Fashion stylist and producer Terri C. Morgan, owner and director of TCM Models and Talent and the voice of fashion for The Bellevue Collection, opened the runway show with short commentary on current trends that included a list of the "Top 5 Spring Fashion Must Haves": 1) a sophisticated trench coat in a soft fabric, 2) a touch of neon, 3) a colorful or printed handbag, 4) an oversized necklace, and 5) relaxed pants that are soft at the hip.
The show featured the spring collections of designer retailers from The Bellevue Collection, which sponsored the fashion show portion of the event as part of their Spring Runway09 (an annual event at The Bellevue Collection), which ran this year from March 26–29. Premier stores and brands such as David Lawrence, Mercer, 7 For All Mankind, Martin + Osa, Eileen Fisher, Louie Permelia, and Voletta Couture were all modeled. The first selection from Mercer, a bright red spring dress with chocolate sweater, was the 425 Magazine Editors' Choice and will be featured in their May issue.
"On behalf of The Bellevue Collection, we were honored and thrilled to sponsor the fashion show for the Act Two Guild," said Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing for Kemper Development, owner and operator of The Bellevue Collection. "The addition of PACE is such a gift to our community that we look for opportunities like this to demonstrate our support for their mission. It was a perfect match for our brand and gave us the opportunity to showcase some of our best fashion stores to a dynamic group of PACE supporters."
During the reception prior to lunch, mannequin models showcased special event dresses adorned with jewelry from Tiffany & Co., the internationally renowned luxury jeweler and specialty retailer whose merchandise offerings also include sterling silverware, china, crystal, and fragrances.
"The Act Two Guild, including President Theresa Goesling and Event Chairs Kim Hardwick and Carol Loya, did a marvelous job putting together this stylish event to benefit the Campaign For PACE," says Linda Bonomi, director of development for PACE. "These women have amazing energy, and they have come up with a terrific fundraiser that is upbeat, cosmopolitan, and fun. The Bellevue Collection and the Guild formed a very successful partnership with this event. We are happy with their achievement and so appreciative of their commitment to PACE."
About The Act Two Guild
PACE Guilds support the mission of Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) through outreach activities and fundraising events that build strong relationships in the communities served. Formed in April 2008, the volunteer members of the Act Two Guild want to support PACE by creating a buzz of expectation around the beneficial union of fashion and theatre for the cultural life of the Eastside. Utilizing connections in the communities in which the members live and work, this newest Guild of over 30 dedicated women is inspired by the belief that the arts play an important role in developing healthy, vibrant communities. They are working not only for themselves, but for all Eastside families who will share in the many benefits of PACE for decades to come.
The Bellevue Collection
Located in the heart of Bellevue, Washington, The Bellevue Collection includes Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place, and Lincoln Square. With a distinctive collection of 250 of the finest shops, 19 sit-down restaurants, a 16-screen premier cinema, 700 luxury hotel rooms and 10,000 free retail parking spaces, all in one location, The Bellevue Collection is an experience unlike any other in the region. It is located on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 10th Streets in downtown Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from Seattle.
About Performing Arts Center Eastside:
Performing Arts Center Eastside will be a 2,000-seat premier regional center for the performing arts. Its mission is to enrich cultural life with a wide diversity of live entertainment, arts, and education. PACE will stimulate the arts region-wide; attract new audiences; heighten arts awareness and education; provide a performance home for select area arts organizations; and serve as a cultural center for the Eastside. PACE has several opportunities for volunteer involvement that include the Act One Guild, Act Two Guild, Ambassadors For PACE, Voices For PACE, and Parties For PACE. PACE plans to open in 2012, and it will be located in downtown Bellevue on the corner of NE 10th Street and 106th Avenue NE. The Campaign For PACE has raised nearly $32 million to date.