It was a great party at the
Chihuly Boathouse on Thursday evening to raise money to keep the doors open at
Gilda's Club Seattle.
Gilda's Club, which offers a broad, community-based program of social, emotional, and educational support for cancer survivors, has been struggling with reduced contributions as have many non-profits during the past year or so. When
Anna Gottlieb,
Gilda's Club Seattle Executive Director and Founder, contacted supporter
Dr. James Bianco, to ask for help, he immediately agreed to pull together a committee to plan a fundraiser to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of
Gilda's Club Seattle.
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| Jim Bianco & Ken Hatch celebrate party success |
Numerous planning meetings were held in the lobby of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel with primary planners in addition to Jim being Mike Kunath, Kate Harrison and Ken Hatch. Other steering committee members included Teri Citterman, Bryce Fisher, Sherrie & Jerry Henke, Steve Kutz and Courtney Womack, JJ McKay, Cindy & Kevin Swett, Betty Tong & Joe Miner and me.
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| Courtney Womack, Stacy Lill, Cathi Hatch, Steve Kutz |
Of course, the location was spectacular! I so enjoy visiting the Boathouse whenever I get the opportunity. First, there is the excitement of being in the Hot Shop and hearing the roar of the torches and the Glory Hole and watching the gaffers handle the hot glass so ably. Seeing so much gorgeous and colorful
Chihuly glass art in one place including the dozen or so chandeliers above the endlessly long log table in the Evelyn Room, and the colorful glass sea forms in the swimming pool, the eerily greenish-white glass art in the aquarium along with
Dale's other fascinating collections of masks, buddhas, string dispensers, Indian blankets and baskets is always such a memorable experience!
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| Jonathan Roberts, Ken Hatch, Michael Hatch |
Great food was served courtesy of
William Belickis of
Mistral Kitchen,
Thierry Rautureau of
Rover's/LUC and
Michelle Ratallac, of new restaurant opening soon,
RN74. Performing the role of celebrity Sommeliers were
Stacy & Greg Lill of
DeLille Cellars pouring their own wine and
Jake Kossef pouring
Long Shadows Pirouette and wines from
Owen Roe Winery.
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| Bryce Fisher and friend |
In addition to the Steering Committee, some other friends in attendance supporting the cause were
Walter Schoenfeld,
Patti Payne,
Sue Bianco,
Vanessa & Rob Strickland,
Len Nahajski,
Pat Wallace,
Michael Hatch,
Jonathan & Elizabeth Roberts, and
Dave Bingham of
Park Place Motors with two of his beautiful Aston Martin automobiles that were part of a "Drive an Aston for a Day" package for the brief auction line-up. Also included in the auction were tickets to the Mariners, use of the
Lusty Lady marquee donated by
Robert Holmes, and two beautiful German Shepherd puppies.
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| Walter Schoenfeld, Vanessa Strickland |
All in all, it was a very successful evening and the doors to
Gilda's Club Seattle will stay open!
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