Fashionably dressed women – many with their husbands in tow -attended the 5th annual Savvy Chic event at the Beverly Hills Hotel Wednesday. Nearly 250 guests gathered for a silent auction luncheon fashion show and award reception benefiting the Boone Center for the Family.
Savvy Chic raises funds for the Boone Center’s educational and training programs centered on family and relationships – including the Relationship I.Q. convocation series at Seaver College.
Carol Wallace and Sheila Bost executive committee members of the Friends of the Family League – an auxiliary of the Boone Center developed Savvy Chic as a fun and fashionable fundraising opportunity.
President Andrew K. Benton said Savvy Chic is a creative spin on “pure unadulterated fundraising.”
“You can’t open just one door and expect every donor to walk through; you’ve got to open a lot of different doors Benton said. Savvy Chic reaches out to women in a different way. It’s a ‘friend-raiser’ and ‘friend-raising’ leads to fundraising.”
Benton said he also enjoys the opportunity to see new faces and establish new relationships.
Tami McKelvy of Pepperdine University Special Events said Savvy Chic brings in $80000 to $100000 each year.
Like an open-air bazaar vendors sold sparkling jewelry finely-woven scarves pajamas and purses with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Boone Center programs. In addition to items for sale attendees placed bids on a variety of “packages” including four Clippers tickets dance lessons paragliding photography portraits and cooking classes.
Along with its fundraising mission each year Savvy Chic recognizes an individual who “best personifies the mission on which the league was founded.” Helen Young former Pepperdine student and first lady received this year’s award.
In a congratulatory letter to Young Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote “By co-founding the Boone Center you have given students and families a wonderful place to learn and grow. I applaud your commitment to this school its students and the countless families who benefit from the work that goes on here.”
Young best-known for founding the Associated Women for Pepperdine in 1958 continues serve the Pepperdine community. Juniors Maggie Samuel Jessie Wallace and sisters Stephanie and Rebecca Sack attended the event by invitation of junior Natalie Eastman and her mother Kim.
Mrs. Eastman praised the Boone Center’s mission statement and Christian focus and said she enjoys Savvy Chic as an opportunity to spend time with her daughter.
“I love the opportunity to connect with my daughter and her friends – to treat them to a special day Eastman said. We’re a big Pepperdine family – all three of my children attended Pepperdine.”
Event formalities began as Wallace welcomed attendees as they filtered into the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom.
Following Wallace Emmy Award-winning costume designer Brenda Cooper unveiled the three makeover recipients – Dr Emily Lemley Angie Lemley and Maddie Jackson all relatives of Honoree Helen Young.
Stylists Neil Weisberg and Sandra Dee of the Neil George Salon and Umberto Salon respectively conducted the makeovers.
“It’s not about age it’s about attitude Cooper said, applauding the women as worked the catwalk.
After the celebrated makeovers, Margaret Weber, dean of Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology and Ken Canfield, executive director for the Boone Center introduced the center current aspirations.
Weber and Canfield both emphasized a new Boone Center program focused on cultivating strong father figures. Canfield further encouraged the new generation to direct their energies into strengthening families and fatherhood, Especially in the inner-city where fatherlessness has a huge negative effect.”
He also reinforced his commitment to making the Boone Center a “world-class center for the family.”