Organizers for the third annual Little Black Dress Affair in Mount Forest, a fundraiser for the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation and Cancer Patient Services Corp., hoped it would be “an affair to remember”. They certainly succeeded.
Over 150 women, almost all dressed in their little back dresses, filled the beautifully decorated hall on Sept. 24 at the Mount Forest and District Sportsplex and in the space of three hours raised over $15,000 for the two causes.
The number is up from $10,000 raised last year and $7,000 the year before.
Donna Leach, along with Myrna Sheppard and Debbie Carney organized the Little Black Dress Affair, said it was “the biggest and best” to date.
“We had 157 women this year, up from 150 last year. It has to be stressed that it is for a very worthy cause and it’s wonderful how the community gets behind us … and spends their money,” Leach said.
Tickets sold out in July, even before the tickets were printed.
“People ask for tickets and we put their names on the list,” Leach says.
“It all started when Debbie (Carney) wanted to do some sort of a gala,” says organizer Myrna Sheppard, “and I said ‘oh my gosh, my daughter has a function in Sudbury that she calls a Little Black Dress Affair’.”
Jenny Whetham and Carol Armstrong were part of the committee organizing the first two Little Black Dress Affairs in Mount Forest but bowed out after last year’s event. Carney, Leach and Sheppard decided to go it alone this year.
“But every year it does get a little easier,” Sheppard said.
The evening featured live music by Randy Carney, Neil Carrier and John Dennison, a complimentary glass of wine and appetizers, a silent and live auction with auctioneer Scott Hartle, a 50-50 draw and a photo booth with photographer Andrea Ferrier and door prizes.
The women bid on dozens of items ranging from handbags to backsplash for their kitchens to furniture and outdoor playground equipment donated by dozens of local sponsors. Fire Chief Dave Guilbault offered a trip in the fire truck from a woman’s home to her place of work. It was purchased for over $500.
The appetizers, ranging from meatballs and savoury tarts to ice wine trifle and fresh fruit, were prepared by Daphne Rappard, Caroline Wollis, Yvonne Stewart, Denise Balch, Helen Craigie, Flora Burke and Patti Sinnamon.
Waiters wearing white shirts and black pants greeted attendees who escorted them to their table and then poured the wine and delivered the appetizers to the tables through the evening.
The waiters were Jeff Bilton, Ryan Fuss, Dave Guilbault, Gil Holder, Bruce Mullen, Bob McAllister, Drew Nelson, Brian Plume, Richard Quartel and John Walton.
An addition to the event this year was a sale of “mystery boxes”.
Tina Grant, who two months ago opened Tina’s Sugar Shop in Mount Forest, was commissioned to bake 299 cookies shaped like little black dresses with black icing… and one with pink icing. The cookies were put into boxes and sold for $10 each or three for $25 and, Janice McDougall-Lamont who had the pink cookie, won a Canadian diamond “pulse” necklace donated by Wendt’s Jewellers.
Aimee Pembleton, who attended the Little Black Dress Affair with her sister April Mantha and their mother Janet Polasz, won over $600 in the 50-50 draw.
Table centrepieces created by Richard Quartel of Mount Forest Greenhouse featuring white roses were sold for $20 apiece.
Al Leach was master of ceremonies for the evening and Ken Gravestock was in charge of the wine.
The Little Black Dress Affair has 40 individual and business sponsorships.
