Woman’s Club annual Fashion Show models friendships and fundraising

More than 200 women will fill the Holiday Bay Room at the lodge today for the Woman’s Club annual Fashion Show. Formed 47 years ago, the Canyon Lake Woman’s Club is one of the oldest, largest and most active groups in the community. The Fashion Show is the club’s largest fundraising event with the proceeds making up a hefty chunk of the $30,000 to $50,000 the Woman’s Club gives away each year to local charities and to Canyon Lake women and girls in the form of scholarships.

The Fashion Show dates back to the late 70s. Originally, the shows were held at monthly meetings with the chairperson doing spoofs on fashion shows. In recent years, it’s evolved into a first-rate affair held annually in the Holiday Bay Room on the last Friday in April. There is always a theme and elaborate decorations.

The theme of this year’s show is “Adventures in Paradise” and features fashions modeled by club members, lunch, entertainment, five $500 grand prize drawings, silent auction featuring more than 100 items, basket raffle featuring 10 themed baskets valued at $200 each and door prize raffles throughout the morning.

New this year is the club’s Unique Boutique, a selection of new and gently used clothing, jewelry and scarves donated by club members. Attendees are invited to shop at the boutique between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and during the show’s intermission.

In keeping with the “Adventures in Paradise” theme, today’s lunch prepared by the lodge staff includes Hawaiian chicken skewers on a bed of rice, Hawaiian rolls and macadamia nut cookies.

Fashion Show Co-Chairs Daryl France, Johncee Cochran and Corrie Tutt have spent months preparing for today’s Fashion Show. Four pre-parties were held in the months leading up to today’s grand event. The pre-parties included a Paint-n-Sip and three themed parties: “Out of Africa,” “Pirates in Paradise” and “Gidget Goes Hawaiian.”

This year’s stage set features an island theme complete with tikis created by Daryl and her team of helpers. “Holly Biondi has done a fabulous job creating exotic table décor this year,” said Daryl.

More than modeling clothes, the Fashion Show models friendships and fundraising. Friendships are formed and strengthened through the countless hours the women spend working together to prepare for this grand event. The elements of the show that help the club raise money are the pre-parties, ticket sales, silent auction, raffles, door prizes and grand prizes.

Following today’s Fashion Show will be the club’s Spring Tea on May 11 at the senior center, the Mermaid Festival on Sept. 21 at Indian Beach, the Witches Afternoon Tea on Oct. 19 at the senior center and the Holiday Home Tour in December. Information about upcoming events can be found on the Woman’s Club website at canyonlakewomansclub.com.

About the Woman’s Club

The Woman’s Club is a non-profit, non-partisan, philanthropic service group. The club was founded in 1972 when a group of Canyon Lake women wanted to meet their neighbors. They organized an early morning “Kidnap Breakfast,” allowing those kidnapped to put on two things: a robe and false teeth.

This same group, plus the kidnap victims, met and decided to form a Woman’s Club. Bylaws were written and, on Nov. 14, 1972, the first election of officers was held. There were 91 charter members. Their main purpose at that time was to purchase safety equipment and support activities for teens.

A suggestion was also made to contact the Riverside County Libraries to request a bookmobile stop in Canyon Lake. A book exchange table was set up at the CLWC monthly meeting. This led to establishing a financial sponsorship program to manage the development and growth of the local library.

Space was rented and the Woman’s Club paid the utility bills. Woman’s Club volunteers staffed the library, which eventually became part of the Riverside County Library System.

One of the first money-making events was a rummage sale held at the Village Center. This evolved into a swap meet, first held at Blue Bird Hall and then moved to the Towne Center.  In 2004, the membership voted to no longer hold a swap meet.

The club’s first Home Tour was held on Nov. 24, 1973. This event continues to be held annually before Christmas and is a successful fundraiser. It now includes a drawing for decorated Christmas trees and a vendor boutique.

In 2007,  a “Taste of Paradise” cookbook was created from recipes donated by members. It proved to be a successful fundraiser.

In 2011, the board adopted a logo and sold T-shirts and sweatshirts with the glitzy logo. In 2014, vendors were added to the general membership meetings and the meetings were given themes.

All these events continue to be major fundraisers. Members continue to put in countless hours, display their many talents and make new friendships as they raise money to be donated to philanthropic recipients and scholarships. A footnote at the bottom of the club’s website says, “Life’s Greatest Treasure – Friendship.”




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