The Women’s Auxiliary of the Avalon Yacht Club this quarter announced it has raised a total of $23,000 earmarked for local charities and non-profit organizations in Cape May County, NJ. Run by dozens of club member volunteers, the annual fashion show fundraiser is a much-anticipated summer event with more than 250 women in attendance. This year’s featured fashion show designer was Lilly Pulitzer.
Local non-profit organizations selected as 2023 beneficiaries are: Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children, Wetlands Institute, The Branches Outreach, Friend in Need, Coalition Against Rape and Abuse of Cape May County (CARA), Challenged Athletes Foundation, Holy Redeemer Healthy Families of Cape May County, Avalon Police Department, and the Avalon Fire Department.
“For more than 81 years, the Avalon Yacht Club Women’s Auxiliary has supported numerous Seven Mile Island-based charities and organizations through its fundraising efforts,” said Elizabeth Eshelman, Avalon Yacht Club Women’s Auxiliary President for the 2022-2023 year. “I am so proud to share that this year’s fundraising efforts far exceeded our expectations — and we couldn’t have done it without the generosity of all the big-hearted local businesses on the island who so generously donated in support of our efforts. I’m also very grateful to Lilly Pulitzer CEO Michelle Kelly and her team for sponsoring our event, and putting in all the work to help co-host, dress our mother-daughter model teams, and make it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.”
Local businesses in Avalon, Stone Harbor, and surrounding shore towns generously donated merchandise and gift cards, gift baskets, items for door prizes, and other favors as a way to help promote their business at the Fashion Show and add value to the event. Donors were featured in Avalon Yacht Club’s Fashion Show brochure and highlighted to all of its members who are always eager to support participating local businesses.
A special feature of the evening was a live auction of a one-of-a-kind art piece created on-site by a Lilly Pulitzer 20-year veteran print artist. The painting sold for $2700, the proceeds of which were directed to the Helen L. Diller Home for Blind Children in Avalon as requested by the auction winner.
“Cape May County has seen a sharp rise in the need for social service resources to help improve the lives of its residents and guests,” added Eshelman. “This year’s recipients are all engaged in life-saving and/or life-affirming endeavors on behalf of our greater community, and we’re glad for the opportunity to further their organizational missions.”
