Bloomingdale’s shoppers on Sunday must have thought they fell down the faux-fur rabbit hole. The main floor was transformed into a full-fledged runway surrounded by towers of pink confectionery amidst Louis bags and Marc Jacobs smoking slippers. Though it could have been mistaken for a Wonderland-gone-chic, the event’s prominent motto—“finding a cure is oh so sweet”—made onlookers aware this was the 4th annual GOPiNK Fashion Show, a benefit that raised about $20,000 for breast cancer research and programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Founded in 2009 by Erica Baevsky and Allie Farber, two Rye Country Day School (RCDS) grads, GOPiNK is a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate teenagers about breast cancer and help fight the disease. It has chapters at schools across Westchester, and there’s even one in India.
The event, which drew around 250 attendees, opened with an address by the fashion show chairs, RCDS seniors Amanda Dubin of Purchase and Amanda Weinstein of Greenwich, and Solomon Schechter School of Westchester senior Dani Evans of Scarsdale. The chairs supervised a committee of 44 students from Mamaroneck High School, RCDS, Scarsdale Senior High School, Solomon Schechter, and White Plains High School.
“It was a great way to get people talking about the issue and to raise funds for breast cancer programs,” Evans said. “We had attendants from multiple schools, we had tons of volunteers, and most importantly, we surpassed our goal in raising $20,000.”
Followed by a word from GOPiNK’s founders was an acoustic performance by Mamaroneck High School senior Sophia Schoneau, a singer-songwriter.
The highlight of the event featured a parade of teenagers—from RCDS, Harrison High School, and Solomon Schechter—strutting down the aisle-cum-runway in Bloomindale’s’ freshest summer clothes and GOPiNK tee shirts. The looks included pieces from Amanda Uprichard, Aqua, Mink Pink, Ted Baker and Joie.
A silent auction included offers from Devra Bader Salon, Mixology, Westchester Laser Associates, Sportech, SoulCycle, and Total Entertainment.
Along with rosy-hued candy and Forty Carrots froyo, guests goodie-bagged Cancer Prevention newsletters from New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
 |
 |
