High fashion women and high-caliber weapons don’t generally mix, but on a recent idyllic desert day, supporters of St. Theresa School’s 54th annual fashion show luncheon heard a powerful story about gangs, bullets and jobs.
California Peace Prize winner the Rev. Gregory Boyle, dramatically described his work as founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, holding the rapt attention of nearly 220 guests gathered at the Parker Palm Springs.
Boyle brought tears to many eyes as he described his actions rehabilitating gang members in Los Angeles.
Two of his “homies” accompanied him to the luncheon, rubbing elbows with prominent guests. It was clear that Boyle’s message of kinship and community resonated with the school’s passion for diversity. The school’s new principal Michael Keno later explained, “Our school includes families from every walk of life to maintain its rich diversity.”
Guests were seated at 20 formally set tables and had high praise for the exotic lunch of chilled gazpacho, Provençal salad and a mixed berry tart with lavender.
One of the most sought after auction items was two tickets to New York’s Donna Karan Fashion Week, which brought $1,000. Event co-chairwomen Heather Vaikona and Julie Martinez plus many tireless volunteers attended to every detail of this exclusive annual affair.
Following lunch, mistress of ceremonies CBS local 2 anchor Jenifer Daniels introduced Saks Fifth Avenue General Manager Eric Rodriguez, who presented the fashion show featuring runway models wearing Saks’ top designer creations from Stella McCartney, Emilio Pucci, Alexander McQueen and Donna Karan. A lively singing and dancing presentation by students closed the show.
The event, themed “At Our Best,” raised $60,000 to help educate St. Theresa youth. Rodriguez and Daniels joined other notables in the audience, including Tammy Wheat, Tevita Vaikona, Jeff Martinez, former Palm Springs councilman and former police chief Lee Weigel and Marie Weigel, Paula Karcher, Victoria Liddy, Gayle Hodges and Nancy Clapper.
Sponsors for the event included Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert, Eisenhower Medical Center, Pacific Western Bank and Palm Springs Airport Car Wash.
For information and donations to St. Theresa School educational and scholarship funds, contact Marie Weigel (760) 902-4428; weigelps@aol.com
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