"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.

 

This week: Gossip from two parties for children’s charities.

I wanted to share some gossip and Kodak type moments with you from a few recent fundraisers. This past week highlighted two children’s charities- the dinner to benefit Childsplay and the luncheon for the Emily Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

While browsing through the boutiques and silent auction items at the Emily Center lunch, these ladies standing so sweetly at their boutique outside the ballroom- captured my attention.

Check out the picture I snapped above!

This is something to gossip about. While browsing through the “EC- Emily Center Market,” as it was so affectionately called, I spotted the teenager donned in a creative and adorably fun dress, with a sweet matching purse, I might add!  

“Where did you get that dress made of candy wrappers?” I asked.

“Katie made it for me for my prom,” she replied and smiled at Katie. Katie Wilson owns Garage, the designer kids’ boutique in Scottsdale, and wearing the fun fashionable dress was Katie’s employee Billie Brunkhorst.

So I asked Katie, "oh are you a designer, too?" 

“No,” she replied and explained how it all started when Billie couldn’t find the right dress for her senior prom. With inspiration from the nostalgic candies for sale in the Garage boutique- Katie came up with a last-minute idea. With the help of another employee and just 30 hours before the prom- they tackled the candy section of the store and lots of needles and threads. What a SWEEET result.

By the way, the reason Katie was at the Emily Center luncheon was for her client-- Kristine Shapiro. Katie had thrown a birthday party in the store for Kristine’s daughter Marina, who just turned 10-years-old. It was such a hit that Kristine asked Katie to donate an in-store party for the silent auction for Emily Center. She called it “A Sweet Affair” for the birthday girl or boy and 10 friends.

And that’s the story of why Katie was at the luncheon with Billie, etc. Note to Katie: I think you are now a designer. 

The fashion show luncheon also featured the Phoenix Boys Choir. Check out the pic below that I snapped.

The choir is about to embark on their summer tour to St. Lawrence, and they hit the high notes in honor of the event’s success! Kudos to co-chairs of the Emily Center luncheon-- Molly Bland and Michele Lundstedt.

Emily Center is a pediatric library located at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – a place where parents can turn to for their questions and answers about their child’s healthcare. It’s staffed by nurses. It’s free, and it’s now the largest pediatric research and resource library in the Southwest.

Childsplay Benefit

Congratulations Frances Cohen! She received the 2010 Pied Piper Award at the Childsplay “Celebrate” dinner benefit.  Frances, a respected community volunteer, is a “make it happen” person.

She started Wolf Trap in Arizona, a performance arts and residency field trip program for preschool and Head Start children, and has been the regional director for the program since 1986. 

Partners in Dance Theater West with the bubbly Susie Silverman; Frances is the Artistic Director of Center Dance Ensemble, the resident modern dance company of the Herberger Theater Center. Frances has also worked with Childsplay in choreographing musical productions such as "Go, Dog. Go!" and "The Big, Friendly Giant."

Pictured below at the Childsplay fundraiser is Pam and Richard Fritz with Joanie Flatt, community and Childsplay volunteer, along with public relations expert.

Also congrats to the inaugural recipients of The Sonja Award: Richard Coven, Karen Majestic Powell and Linda Pulaski.   Named for Sonja F. Saar, the wife of Childsplay founder and Artistic Director, David Saar. Childsplay is the nonprofit theatre company of professional, adult artists who perform for and teach young audiences and their families.