What a night! Hosted by the W San Francisco, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) held its annual fundraiser This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse (TOB) on Friday, October 16. 400 guests packed the room and participated in a passionate “battle of the purses” led by BCEF’s favorite auctioneer Lenny Broberg and MC Hilary Newsom Callan (co-chairing the host committee with Dame Bella Farrow). The fifth annual event, presented by Kaiser Permanente, featured nearly 300 designer, vintage, celebrity autographed, and eco-conscious- fashion forward handbags.
Marius Carluci and Song Choe (Prada) |
Geoff Callan, Hilary Newsom Callan and Neil Figurelli |
Veronica La Beau and Dame Bella Farrow |
Hermes Birkin donated by Ann Getty |
Some of the evening hits were the one-of-a kind sequel Prada evening bag kindly donated by Prada San Francisco, a Hermes Birkin from the private collection of Philabulous Ann Getty, an autographed Tod’s Bag donated by Sharon Stone, and a beautiful bag especially designed by April in Paris’ Beatrice Amblard for TOB.
Ferragamo bag donated by Charlotte Schultz |
April in Paris Bag by Beatrice Amblard |
This year’s auction also included various trips and packages courtesy of the Plumjack Group, the Morgans Hotel, Virgin America, Burn the Floor on Broadway, Great American Music Hall, the San Francisco Opera, Bauers Transporation, Epic Road House, and Slim.
Bahya Oumlil-Murad and Neil Figurelli |
Bill Lee and Supervisor Bevan Dufty |
Cati Gallardo, Noal Grover |
Elizabeth Thieriot, Cynthia Shreuder, Michelle Curtis |
Thanks to the sponsors (Clift Hotel, Wells Fargo, Pacific Union, Medjool and Bloomingdales) and the fantastic Host and Steering Committees (co-chaired by the fabulous Neil Figurelli from Winslow & Associates and Bahya Oumlil-Murad who is wearing a Galliano dress courtesy of Bloomingdales) the evening generated about $105,000 that will directly go to clients facing financial hardship while battling breast cancer.
Founded in April 2001, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund responds quickly and compassionately to provide short-term emergency financial assistance to low-income women and men of San Francisco and San Mateo County who are in active treatment for breast cancer, in order to cover basic human needs, lessen financial burdens, and improve quality of life.
Many people with breast cancer have no health insurance and are unable to work during their illness or treatment, adding a huge financial toll to an already difficult struggle. BCEF helps clients avoid eviction or utility shut-off, improve the quality of their lives and maintain stable housing during their illness. Assistance from BCEF lessens the emotional toll of unpaid bills and helps clients focus on their health and families. BCEF also makes referrals to agencies that can provide longer-term help with practical and emotional support and other vital services.
Julia Birmingham, Maryann Sangiacomo |
Lorena Hernandez, Hala Hijazi |
Guest, Judy Holm |
Gia Raia, Hooman Khalili, Margaret Mitchell |
Joaquin Esboto, Shannon Malloy |
Brenda Zarate, Natalia Urrutia |
Catherine Hall, Joi Scheele |
Mark Rhoades, Linda Gordon |
Alana Paskett, Casey Colvin |
Phillip Gums, Eddie Sassin |
Mark Calvano, Joel Goodrich, Dame Bella Farrow |
Donna Sachet, Richard Sablatura |
Raghu Shivaram, Ken Henderson |
Erin Sedilko, Elyssa Thorp |
Betsy Linder, Elizabeth Thieriot |
Gayle Evans, Bahya Oumlil-Murad |
