Ladies Auxiliary of Oceanside to host fashion show fundraiser

Members of the Ladies Auxiliary No. 3481 will strut the runway at O’Connell Gardens on April 7 for their annual fashion show fundraiser, culminating a years’ worth of fundraising efforts for various charities.

The Ladies Auxiliary, of the Father Joseph O’Connell Council No. 3481 Knights of Columbus in Oceanside was founded in 1952 and now boasts hundreds of members, who contribute to raising funds for several dozen local and national organizations. The Auxiliary’s annual fundraisers include Day at the Derby, a Christmas Boutique and Paint Night. The fashion show is the Auxiliary’s largest fundraiser.

Last year, the group raised $12,000 from the fashion show and contributed to 11 organizations, including Island Harvest, Camp Anchor, St. Anthony’s Church, the Oceanside Senior Center and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“This is our big end-of-year bash,” said President Lisa Kahl. “You see the hard work that we’ve done all year come together on this one day.”

About 10 members will walk the runway in fashion donated by Dress Barn in Oceanside. The afternoon also holds promise of a family-style lunch, beverages, dessert, a cash bar, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and about 70 raffles prizes.

Tickets are $45 per person. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event. This year’s grand prize is two tickets to The Cher Show on Broadway and dinner at Carmine’s in Manhattan.

In May, the Ladies Auxiliary will take input from its members on which charities to donate to and, in June, make its annual contributions.

“Everyone’s coming together — it’s a gathering of our members to celebrate our hard work for the year,” Kahl said. “The members feel pride and joy, showing how they contribute, buying raffle tickets and getting into the spirit and heart of it.”