Leap Day, the famous February 29th, has been a day of traditions, folklore, and superstitions ever since its introduction by Julius Caesar over 2,000 years ago.
The Women’s Business Network of Cranberry, Pennsylvania has added to these Leap Day celebrations.
The WBN Cranberry Chapter hosted a fashion show & shopping extravaganza on Saturday, February 29, 2020. This experience was extravagant for many reasons. Generous women who are also members of WBN donated items of food and decanters of beverages, modeled clothing and jewelry, and vended at the event showcasing their fabulous merchandise from within the walls of a 1.8-million-dollar model home! This grand home was provided by Infinity Custom Homes, Forest Edge.
This glamour was not all for shopping’s sake alone. Monies raised and collected for this meaningful event were donated by WBN Cranberry Chapter to Living in Liberty in the amount of $2,800.00.
What is Living in Liberty? Living in Liberty works to combat human trafficking in Southwestern, PA by supporting survivors on the streets and in their safe home, and by providing community education about the realities of commercial sexual exploitation in our city. They are supported by two repurposed thrift stores, sustained by the efforts of over 100 faithful volunteers, and maintained by charitable donations, such as the WBN of Cranberry Chapter’s Leap affair.
The entire WBN Cranberry Chapter supported this event by donating raffle items and/or attending the event which cost $15.00 per person. Vendors purchased their spaces of $25.00 each which also included a donated item from their businesses at a value of $50.00. All proceeds went to Living In Liberty’s most needed cause – to support the victims of human trafficking, raise awareness, and work toward bringing an end to sexual slavery.
The WBN Leap Fashion Show Committee members were: Karen Helfrick Newpol of Cranberry Framed – Chair, Nancy Wood of Salon Reflections – Co-Chair / Vendor Coordinator, Tracie Black Fiorita of Snow Water Boutique – Vendor Placement / Program MC, Teri Walter of Mary Kay- Vendor Placement, Denise Hughes of Hughes Event Planning – Secretary / Model, Maria Pirro of Clearview Federal Credit Union – Banking / Raffles, Julie Frank David of Style Your Confidence – Program MC, Kim Hackett Reuss of Reuss Allstate Insurance – Living in Liberty Coordinator, Suzanne Sekula of Studio 312 Interiors – Planning / Food, and Leslie McKinney of Caring Transitions – Planning / Set-up / Model.
Jillian Babish Zentko of Thrive Chiropractic, Kehle Pelles Murphy of Nutrilite, Teri Walter and her daughter Heather of Mary Kay, Nancy Wood of Salon Reflections, Leslie McKinney of Caring Transitions, and Denise Hughes of Hughes Event Planning were the lovely models of the Leap event.
Karen Helfrick Newpol’s husband and daughter, Rich and Amanda Newpol, Nancy Wood’s husband and son-in-law, Bob Wood and William Campbell, respectively, Leslie’s McKinney’s sons, Logan and Nathan McKinney, and my husband, Scott Lees, helped the vendors carry their items for the vendors during set up time and after the Leap Show, and this action of kindness and caring was so appreciated by all vendors.
The vendors supporting the Leap gala were as follows: Robin Quivers of Robin’s Nest Baskets, Michelle Caspar Kinzel of One Hope, Living in Liberty, Karen Craig of Paparazzi Accessories, Carol O’Brien of Eclectic Fashions, Kim Hackett Reuss of Reuss Allstate Insurance, Natalie Corsello Frazier of 1st Choice Mortgage Services, Julie Frank David of Style Your Confidence, Patrice Palermo Walborn of Pure Romance, Tracie Black Fiorita of Snow Water Boutique, Nancy Wood of Salon Reflections, Margaret Dellana of Damsel in Defense, Juice PLUS, Oil & Vinegar, Diane Johnson of Pet Wants, Kathleen Kirby of Design Inspirations, Ltd., Teri Walter of Mary Kay, Amy Lewis of My Shoe Girl, WBN Pittsburgh North with Arbonne, CBD Oils & Aromatherapy with Scott and Lauralee Zelesnak Lees, Petra Beck of MONAT, Crystal Ranson, Noonday Collection Ambassador of Noonday Collection, Amanda McCandless of Fade Market, Kris Duckstein of SeneGence, Debbie Kuzma of No Time Bracelets, and Jessica Lynch of Pink Zebra.
You do not have to wait for Leap Day or Leap Year to change the life of a victim of sexual slavery.
WBN’s network of chapters personally invite you to become a part of our membership’s success story which includes the supporting of organizations in need like Living in Liberty. WBN provides personal and professional resources to advance the presence of aspiring and successful businesswomen.
Living in Liberty is very appreciative of the generosity of their donors. Please consider the many ways that you or your organization can join their donor community and support the work of Living in Liberty. Donations can be made directly to Living in Liberty by mail or online: Living in Liberty, PO Box 488, Gibsonia pa 15044 OR https://livinginliberty.z2systems.com/np/clients/livinginliberty/donation.jsp.
– Written by Lauralee Zelesnak Lees, WBN Cranberry Chapter Member and Certified Clinical Aromatherapist of CBD Oils & Aromatherapy with Scott and Lauralee