July 1, 2005

SCVCC Women’s Club Fashion Show raises $6,270

Benefiting Support Network for Battered Women

By Barbara Sick
Special to the Times

For committee co-chairpersons Johnette Browning and Laura Tucci, planning the third annual Silver Creek Valley Country Club Women’s Club Fashion Show and Luncheon, “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” seemed like planning a real wedding at times.

The local members who modeled the fashions for the third annual SCVCC Women’s Club Fashion Show included Gwen Bindon, Ursula Christiansen, Melissa Conaulty, Kate Danaj, Anna Ensell, Treva Flynn, Diane Kay, Bernadette Levine, Sandy Pinnel, Sally Raab, Lynne Semkiw, Barbara Sick, Kay Silverstein, Yvonne Stockton, Carol Traub, Margaret Trautmann and Eve Voydat. Committee co-chairs Laura Tucci and Johnette Browning joined the volunteers. Guest models Risa Coler, Jancie Graves, Julie Phillips, Jack Aknin, Elliott Boggs, Jack Browning, Albert Mendez, Andy Hurter, Paul Koojoolian and Rene’ deVos helped out too.

Yet a year of hard work and dedication paid off when the event sold out in the first few weeks of ticket sales. All $6,270 of donations raised on the day of the event—from raffle prizes, centerpiece sales and silent auction items—benefited the Support Network for Battered Women.

The diligent raffle committee, comprised of Bonnie Griffith, Julie Wash, Choeta Heid and Michelle Thompson, spent months traversing the city to collect silent auction items valued over $7,500.

The 182 guests attending the May 8 event enjoyed a fantastic luncheon in the SCVCC Club House with the panoramic views of the Evergreen foothills as a scenic backdrop. The humor and wit of emcee Lissa Kreilser and wedding DJ Carl Mindling entertained the audience between sequences of the themed fashion show, including a wedding shower, a golf outing, wedding rehearsal and, of course, the wedding reception.

Members of the Women’s Club and a few guest models elegantly modeled clothes from Fashions by Cambric of Los Gatos, Flobell Women’s Fashion Boutique, SCVCC Pro Shop, Talbots and Trudy’s Bridal/Special Occasion, as well as jewelry by Tiffany & Co.

(From left) Denise Fattall, choreographer; Johnette Browning and Laura Tucci, committee co-chairs of the event; Brian Neel, Tiffany & Co.; and Diane Kay, president of the SCVCC Women’s Club.

Bijan Bakery, Classic Elegance in Weddings, Flower Divas, Kristin Jacobson Photography, Ryan Willis Photography, Kase Cosmetics, W’s Salon, Art Knapp and Eagle Business Products, Inc. also generously donated their time and
services. Bonnie Griffith donated the programs and Sharon and Milan Zeman provided the white chocolate rose favors.

According to Tucci, Denise Fatall, SCVCC wedding and event coordinator, spent many hours planning the rehearsals and the music composition for the fashion show.

“Denise has always been willing to go the extra mile to help us out when we needed guidance or suggestions,” said Tucci. “She has been very dedicated to the success of the fashion show.”

The SCVCC Women’s Club first annual fashion show in 2003 benefited the American Heart Association and the second fashion in 2004 benefited the Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley.

If you’re interested in learning more about the SCVCC Women’s Club, contact President Diane Kay, (408) 274-1909.

About the Support Network for Battered Women

Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of behavior where one partner in an intimate relationship controls the other through force, intimidation or the threat of violence.

It does not discriminate—it happens to people of every race, class, culture, religion, age, sexual orientation and educational background. Over time, abuse—which can be emotional, verbal, psychological, financial and/or physical—becomes more frequent and more severe.

The Support Network for Battered Women empowers members of the community to live free from domestic violence. Services include a 24-hour, toll-free, bilingual crisis line, an emergency shelter, counseling, information and referrals, support groups, safety planning, legal services and community education presentations.

Staff and volunteers also contact police reported victims of domestic violence to inform them of their rights and resources. All Support Network services are completely confidential, are either free or low-cost and are offered in both Spanish and English.

Last year Support Network staff and volunteers answered 4,195 crisis calls, sheltered 177 women and children, assisted 339 clients with a total of 1,979 units of legal service, and provided 4,506 in-person counseling sessions. The Support Network is the only domestic violence agency in the county that has attorneys on staff to provide legal advice and direct representation for clients.

Community educators served nearly 13,000 participants from law enforcement, local schools, hospital staff, social workers and court personnel.

The Support Network for Battered Women is located at 1975 W. El Camino Real, Suite 205, Mountain View, Calif. 94040. The toll-free, bilingual help line is (800) 572-2782. For more information, go to the Web at www.snbw.org.