Boutique Hosts Fashion Show for a Cause

Women in hundreds of different locations across the country have seen how just a few dollars, and a few hours dining with friends, can turn into thousands of dollars and a message of hope for women in impoverished regions.

Dining for Women is a national organization with local chapters that hold monthly meetings where women (and some with men as well) dine together and use their would-be eating out money to make a donation to the program of that month.

Made in Palo Alto magazine sponsored "A Fashionable Fundraiser" Saturday at to benefit Dining for Women. Joelle Cruz not only publishes the magazine, he and his wife, Ana, opened the boutique in December 2010.

"That was our thing when we opened—to sponsor events like this, nonprofits. It's a big space for hats, but for parties, it's great," Cruz said.

Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa was very supportive of the group's efforts and said, "Through some fun and fashion, we can really make a difference in the world."

Dining for Women, which launched in 2003, chooses one featured program, or grant recipient, each month to which every chapter in the nation donates, averaging about $35,000 per month nationally, according to Tamara Cucchiara, West Coast regional manager for Dining for Women.

Next month, April, the featured program is Lotus Outreach, which will help women and girls who have been sexually abused.

"I challenge you to take this model, which is brilliant in its simplicity, and put it in every town," said Ed Malley of Lotus Outreach. "What you'll do is bring people hope."

Cucchiara said the group wishes to expand its chapters. Right now the closest chapter to Palo Alto is in Sunnyvale.

There was a raffle at Saturday's event, as well, totaling a few thousand in fundraising dollars, according to Cucchiara. In addition to donations, several local businesses donated 10 percent of Saturday sales to the nonprofit. Other businesses donated prizes to the raffle, like a $75 gift certificate to Scott's Seafood Restaurant. The grand prize was a $500 shopping spree throughout Town & Country.

Cucchiara said she has been a member of Dining for Women since fall 2009. Sally Bookman, a local realtor and artist in Aptos, had about 40 women over to her house, where they viewed a DVD of the program of the month and dined together.

"What really touched me is I began to learn what happens to girls and women in different regions of the world that are unknown," Cucchiara said. "I see our little dollars, like $10 from each person or so, collectively totalling $35,000 nationwide. I was amazed by that very simple concept."

Carolyn Digovich, a local promoter, produced and coordinated the fashion show that was part of Saturday's program.

Digovich said she supports local businesses. All the clothes in the fashion show were solely from stores at Town & Country.

Barbara Sedelmeyer, owner of Prestige, Inc., just a few doors down from Brim, said she had some of her store's clothes in the fashion show. She said she donated a lump sum of money and helped in the benefit with the clothes as well, because of Cruz.

"He's an amazing person," Sedelmyer said. "He has the energy of Palo Alto. Whatever he wants to do to promote Palo Alto, Town & Country and help others, then that's great."

To find a Dining for Women chapter near you, contact Tamara Cucchiara at tas8286@yahoo.com.