By Toni Miles
Tickets are still available for Boots and Bowties: The Giving Gala, a full evening of food, drinks, live entertainment, auctions and prizes benefitting the Long Beach-based Pink Hearts Fund nonprofit.
The gala is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Slavonian Lodge, located at 159 Maple Street in Biloxi.
Tickets are $100 and include dinner and a drink; but, more importantly, funds raised will be used to help local cancer victims and survivors through the Pink Heart Funds nonprofit.
The band Dr. Rock and the Interns will provide live entertainment, and the event will be emceed by Carrie Duncan and David Blackwell.
“Emceeing this event in support of the Pink Heart Funds is both an honor and a privilege,” says Duncan. “Nearly everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way, making this cause profoundly personal for many of us.”
“Pink Heart Funds’ mission to compassionately care for uninsured and under-insured cancer patients by providing essential items such as wigs, bras and breast prosthetics, as well as vital resources, is truly inspiring,” says Duncan. “Their partnerships with community service groups and oncology services to offer assistance and encouragement highlight their dedication to helping individuals endure their battle with grace.
“Together, we are not just raising funds, we are fostering hope and unity in this crucial fight against breast cancer,” Duncan says.
Besides food, drinks and live entertainment, there will be opportunities for those in attendance to win prizes. Raffle tickets, which are tax deductible, can be purchased for a Split the Pot drawing. One ticket can be purchased for $2; three for $25 and fifteen for $100. The Split the Pot drawing will be held on the night of the event. The winner does not have to be present to win.
There will also be a live and silent auction, with a wide variety of items donated by local people and businesses. Bidding can take place in person and is also available online until 11:45 p.m. on November 9 at the PinkHeartFunds.org website.
Pink Heart Funds is a non-profit group launched in 2005 and headquartered in Long Beach. It is a 501(c)3 charity that provides cranial prosthetics (wigs) for children and adults with cancer-related hair loss or severe hair loss (alopecia). Pink Heart Funds also provides women with free breast prosthetics and post-mastectomy bras, as well as resources for those seeking support or advice.
Sponsor forms and ticket purchases can be made at PinkHeartFunds.org. For more information about the organization, including how to donate hair for the cause, obtain support through their wig and prosthesis programs, and support meeting dates, call 228-575-8299.