Image by: Kati Garner

Fashion, food and philanthropy made for a great event at Arden Fair Mall Thursday evening as over 200 dynamic  businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, (and men were welcome too!) came together to enjoy food and wine sampling and a fashion show as part of their focus to help foster youth rise above their circumstances and succeed.

(More information at bottom below pictures.)

Lots of food to sample. (Image by: Kati Garner) Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner The VIP's were enthralled with the fashion show. (Image by: Kati Garner) Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner This little model did a fancy dance step which the audience loved. (Image by: Kati Garner) A donor receives a sample of wine. (Image by: Kati Garner) Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner Image by: Kati Garner There were lots of give-a-ways, including this Mercedes. (Image by: Kati Garner) Image by: Kati Garner Glowing rings were part of the fundraising. (Image by: Kati Garner)
Lorrie Wilson, a member of Women in Philanthropy working temporarily with United Way, explains that "Women in Philanthropy is an organization with United Way that helps our foster youth transition from foster care into independent living."

She further explains they do life-skills workshops where we take real life events like how to establish credit  or  how to communicate well. We offer these to our foster youths.

She referred to a brochure she had in her hand and read - "United Way’s Women in Philanthropy brings women together to foster the future, preparing foster youth for a successful adulthood. A dynamic group of businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, Women in Philanthropy members raise funds, hold drives and provide trainings focused on helping foster youth rise to their dreams."

The program has been in motion for about ten years in the Sacramento area for kids 14 - 18 years old.

Arden Fair Mall creates this fundraising event annually to help support our community. This year the mall chose United Way's Women in Philanthropy as the benefactor. According to United Way's website over $11,000 was raised.