The Country Friends and South Coast Plaza partner for 58th Annual Art of Fashion Runway Show in Rancho Santa Fe
The Country Friends recently announced it will partner once again with South Coast Plaza to present the 58th Annual Art of Fashion Runway Show on Thursday, Sept. 19, at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Proceeds from the fashion show, luncheon, live entertainment, boutique shopping and wine tasting will benefit more than 20 San Diego charities, including Friends of San Pasqual Academy, Helen Woodward Animal Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego, Kids Korps USA and Center For Community Solutions, to name just a few.
The Country Friends’ President Rhonda Tryon said Anna Waite will chair the event.
“As the President of The Country Friends, I am so excited to announce our 2013 AOF Chair, Anna Waite,” Tryon said. “Anna has been a member of The Country Friends for many years and she is presently active on the board. Anna comes with a lot of experience in planning events. Her hard work and dedication to The Country Friends mission of ‘helping people to help themselves,’ is very evident in all that she does,” states Tryon. “Anna has been really active in her community locally with other charitable events. This year she has organized a truly talented team along with South Coast Plaza to make this one of our best Art of Fashion Runway shows ever! This will be an event that you will not want to miss.”
Waite has served on the Board of Directors for The Country Friends for seven years. Waite prides herself on helping others by actively volunteering in the community with many organizations.
“I feel honored to be selected as the chair for this year’s Art of Fashion. I’m thankful to have such a talented and dedicated group of women on my committee to assist with making this year’s Art of Fashion a spectacular event.” Additionally, she states, “I am grateful for our longstanding partnership with South Coast Plaza. Having their commitment and sponsorship allows The Country Friends to continue supporting our local charities.”
Patricia Mogul was also announced as the co-chair of the Art of Fashion. Mogul shares, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work as co-chair with Anna and our terrific committee on this year’s Art of Fashion. It is a great honor to be involved with The Country Friends in planning this amazing event that funds our mission to support so many important local charities.”
The floral sponsor for AOF 2013 will be Isari Flower Studio, located at the Cedros District in Solana Beach. Isari Flower Studio will be providing 30 centerpieces for the tables at the luncheon the day of the event, which adds to the décor and style of the luncheon.
The Art of Fashion Runway Show is the largest fundraiser for The Country Friends, the nonprofit volunteer organization that has funded human care agencies throughout San Diego County for 58 years.
In a new twist this year, the event will begin with the Art of Fashion Runway Show first this year at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The show highlights fashions from the 2013 fall/winter collections of renowned international designers. After the fashion show, the luncheon will be next, with the opportunity to shop at boutiques of South Coast Plaza, including the latest trends in clothing, handbags, jewelry, eyewear and other accessories. The event concludes with the “Apres Affaire” wine tasting, a time to savor and toast the 2013 beneficiaries.
Members of the Art of Fashion Runway Show Committee include: Donna Ahlstrom, Dave Baker, Tamara Banks, Ana Maria McBrayer, Betty Jo Billick, Linda Black, Maggie Bobileff, Sabrina Cadini, Marci Cavenaugh, Terri Chivetta, Ariel Cowan, Deb Cross, Pam Devaney, Chris Epstein, Sharon Ferges, Rebecca Franks, Kathy Gash, Arline Genis, Michele Grust, Amber Hodges, Karen Hoehn, Alex Johnson, Betsy Jones, Erika Kao, Jo Ann Kitty,Steve Knight, Elaine Leach, Kay Liebowitz, Yvette Letourneau, Jeanne Lucia, Lauren Mandler, Gordon Mac Mitchell, Patricia Mogul, Ellen Nakamura, Andrea Naversen, Jean Newman, Suzanne Newman, Pearl Padovano, Martha Parkou, Erin Regan, Tina Rappaport, Esther Rodriquez, Stacey Rosenblatt, Cheri Salyers, Donna Schempp, Jolynn Shapiro, Machel Shull, Mia Stefanko, Heidi Timlake, Rhonda Tryon, Anna Waite, and Shana Witkin.
Sponsors for the event so far include: DJO Global, Torrey Pines Bank, Hoehn Jaguar & Land Rover Carlsbad, Beverly Gepfer Foundation, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Mille Fleurs, Drop Dead Design and Isari Flower Studio. If you would like to be a sponsor for this year’s 58th Country Friend’s Art of Fashion Show, please contact The Country Friends at events@thecountryfriends.org or 858-756-1192 at extension 4.