The 2014 Patty Brisben Foundation Gala: Gatsby Style

Our recent fundraising Gala for the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health was truly a party fit for Gatsby! Everyone fully embraced the theme – beautiful jewel-encrusted headdresses, fringe and 20s style suits – the costumes were as brilliant as the real thing.

A party isn’t complete without first-class entertainment: we had an amazing band called Galaxy Red out of St. Louis, Missouri, which started with music from the “Jay Gatsby” era and then brought the playlist into modern day; by the end-everyone was on the dance floor partying like Rock Stars. The city’s premier restaurants provided tastings and included Montgomery Inn, Fusian, Embers, Trio, Kaze, Nada, Tres Belles Cakes, A Tavola, 50 West Brewery,Watershed Distillery, Stella Artois, and Woodford Reserve, as well as cigar rollers from Oliva Cigars.

We also captured the beauty and artistry of the era with professional dancers, Justin Chiou and Jackie Zhang, who are among the top amateur ballroom couples in the Midwest from the Cincinnati Ballroom Company.

We have raised over $208,000, which is a $60,000 increase from 2013! What I loved the most, was continuing to bring awareness to issues surrounding women’s sexual health. If you weren’t there, please take a moment to watch a video of Dr. Michael Thomas and I talk about this subject. We do feel sometimes like the “Lone Rangers” or Pioneers of the Wild West when it comes to fighting for more awareness on the behalf of all women. With every dollar raised, we are granting money for further research and education. I’m not doing this for myself – I’m doing it for our daughters, granddaughters, great-grand daughters and beyond. No woman should feel uncomfortable when it comes to talking to her Health Care provider.

Organizing this annual Gala is just the icing on the cake; it’s where we get to have the opportunity to have fun and celebrate bringing awareness to this important cause. What I loved most were all of the people who were attending the Gala for the first time – hearing our Consultants speak with great pride and knowledge about the foundation to them, and why it was important was so incredible. That was in itself like having extra hands and legs to pay forward this mission, and made me proud that they were teaching others more about what the the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health is doing to help women. I don’t know how we will be able to top the event next year – which will be the foundation’s 10^th anniversary – but I will have fun trying!