The Country Friends partners with South Coast Plaza for 57th annual Art of Fashion Runway Show

The Country Friends recently announced it will partner once again with South Coast Plaza to present the 57th Annual Art of Fashion Runway Show on Thursday, Sept. 20, at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Proceeds from the luncheon, fashion show, boutique shopping and wine tasting will benefit more than 20 charities, including Big Brothers-Big Sisters of San Diego, Canine Companions for Independence, Project Concern International, Freedom Station and the Women’s Resource Center, to name just a few.

Marci Cavanaugh, The Country Friends’ president says, “The organization is proud to welcome Karen Gregg Hoehn as chair of this year’s Art of Fashion. Karen is extremely busy within the San Diego community and I feel very honored to have her join The Country Friends. She is a very gracious woman and I felt she was a part of The Country Friends family from our first meeting. Please join us in September for a spectacular AOF Runway Show.”

Hoehn, a Del Mar resident, is an active community volunteer in San Diego whose efforts have centered around youth programs, local schools and arts. She has served on numerous boards and fundraising committees including Project Concern International, The University of San Diego Executive Cabinet for Athletics and the support committee for the Center for Peace and Commerce at USD.

“It’s a great honor for me to chair this year’s Art of Fashion,” said Karen Hoehn. “I’m so impressed with the tremendous generosity of South Coast Plaza to sponsor and underwrite this event for the 8th year. Their commitment to us keeps The Country Friends ability to help our local charities extremely strong, that’s exciting!”

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 57 years.

The event will begin with luncheon on the lawn at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The Art of Fashion Runway Show follows, highlighting fashions from the 2012 fall/winter collections of renowned international designers. In year’s past, the show has featured the designs of Donna Karan, Emilio Pucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Marni, MaxMara, Oscar de la Renta, Saks Fifth Avenue, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John and Versace.

“We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with Country Friends and delighted to once again be a part of such a worthwhile cause and organization,” said Debra Gunn Downing, South Coast Plaza’s executive director of marketing.

During the day, the boutiques of South Coast Plaza will offer the latest trends in clothing, handbags, jewelry, eyewear and other accessories. The event concludes with the “Apres Affaire” wine tasting, a time to savor the day’s events and toast the 2012 beneficiaries.

Members of the Art of Fashion Runway Show Committee include: Donna Ahlstrom, Erica Ashley Hecht, Betty Jo Billick, Maggie Bobileff, Melissa Wilkins Braun, Judy Burer, Marci Cavanaugh, Terri Chivetta, Kathleen Connor, Deb Cross, Melanie Cruz, Kathy Davidson, Chris Epstein, Sharon Ferges, Lisa Fisher, Rebecca Franks, Cathy Geier, Arline Genis, Chris Gootee, Meghan Hansen, Martha Harris-Pankau, Amber Hodges, Jo Hannah Hoehn, Karen Hoehn, Susanah Hoehn, Denise Hug, Laurie Joseph, Yvette Letourneau, Jeanne Lucia, Alexis Lyons, Rexina Mize, Patricia Mogul, Suzanne Newman, Candy Overlie, Pearl Padovano, Katherine Randall, Tina Rappaport, Esther Rodriguez, Cheri Salyers, Molly Santistevan, JoLynn Shapiro, Mia Stefanko, Heidi Timlake, Rhonda Tryon, Andrea Naversen Wait, Anna Waite, Jean Waters, Shana Witkin, May Zawaideh.

The 2012 Art of Fashion Runway Show is sponsored by Hoehn Jaguar Land Rover, DJO Global and California Bank & Trust.

Tickets are $125-$400 at (858) 756-1192, ext. 4 and www.thecountryfriends.org