The Cystic Fibrosis Trust held its inaugural gala Saturday evening, 4 February, to raise money for research into a cure for the disease.
As these women show, 1930s style returned for a night at the gala. |
The Red Rose Lounge at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort was transformed into a 1930s jazz club with music provided by Cool School and KK.
The event sold out within a week of the tickets going on sale. Although funds are still being collected and counted, the trust believes the event raised about CI$37,000 for cystic fibrosis research.
The evening began with Jazz Fantasy cocktails served outside the Red Rose Lounge before the club’s hostess, dressed in a 1930s flapper outfit, invited guests in.
The Marriott’s ballroom was transformed into a seductively low-lit jazz club. Sophisticated backlit silhouettes decorated the walls and complemented the shimmering black tablecloths, silver chairs and intimate bistro lamp table centrepieces.
Prohibition characters circulated the room all night and club owner Lady Victoria modelled the emerald, diamond and tsavorite pendant donated by Colombian Emeralds for the live auction.
Cigarette tray girls, dressed in the corporate colours of the event’s two diamond sponsors – Massive Equipment, Rental and Sales, and UBS – circulated around the room selling items to raise funds for the trust.
A live cupid clad in red Lycra and white feathered wings, explained the 99 Red Balloons promotion to guests and showed them how to buy and pop their balloons to reveal if they’d won a prize. Local companies came together to donate 99 individual prizes for this part of the evening and the balloons were an instant sell-out.
Pamela Fowler of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust was delighted with the evening.
‘I think everyone had a fabulous time. We managed to achieve a different event and guests really got into the theme by dressing in 1930s style. There were some fantastic costumes. People had obviously gone to a lot of trouble.
‘We are so pleased with how well the event was supported by the community both in ticket sales and companies assisting with donations. We are already looking forward to our Chinese New Year celebration in 2007 and we hope people have enjoyed this event and will come back as keenly next year,’ Mrs. Fowler said.
Guests leaving the club agreed the event was a success.
‘I had a fabulous time and I’m already looking forward to next year’s event,’ said Jeifrene Small.
‘It’s like the best wedding I’ve ever been to,’ said another guest.
The 2007 gala, to take place 3 February, is entitled ‘Red Dragon Jazz’. Guests are invited to come out and celebrate Chinese New Year, with the 1930s jazz theme and characters being moved to Hong Kong.
The governor’s wife, Mariko Jack, has agreed to be the trust’s new patron.
‘We look forward to Mrs. Jack taking us through the next stage of our fundraising efforts on the island,’ Mrs. Fowler said.
For more information on the trust or to make a donation, contact Pamela Fowler on 916 4312.
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