Gatsby extravaganza roars the ’20s back to life
Dancing, music, flappers, gourmet dinner and art deco … all for a good cause
When Jacqui Templeton Muir first told me about them, I imagined a highly secretive sorority operating under the cloak of night, like a special ops force or fundraising ninjas. Hardly. It’s true that the “group” — I have to call them that because they have no official name — operates somewhat under the radar and not many know about them.
But when we met to talk about the spectacular Gatsby extravaganza they’re planning for next Thursday — a musical and culinary journey back to the 1920s, New York City-style — they were as open and delightfully un-covert as sunlight through a window.
I think if we’re not familiar with them, it’s because we simply haven’t asked.
Because once someone asks them (to help with fundraising, say) and once they’ve taken up a cause, they’re an unstoppable force, hitting the phones, lining up donations, supplies, volunteers, sponsors, catching lightning in their hands and staging remarkable events.
“They’re really something,” says Jacqui.
“For years, they’ve been quietly getting behind different causes and raising a great deal of money.”
There are about 25 of them — people like Colleen Billings and her sisters Sharon Marafon and Pat Bereza; Mary Louise Luchak; Wanda Urban (of Urban Marketing fame) ... I could go on.
Right now, they’re putting on an almighty push for the Gatsby Gala event.
They’ve been stymied by a latesummer sluggishness in response — people away and so on. But they’re phoning and organizing fervently, trying to get the troops and the word out, and they’ve certainly succeeded at lining up donations, volunteers and great features for the show.
“It’ll be all Gatsby,” says Colleen. “Oysters, champagne, beef Wel- lington, martinis, canapés and epicurean cheeses, and there would’ve been bathtub gin if it were allowed.” The roaring ’20s, replete with dancing, music, flappers, gourmet dinner, art deco, a photo booth and many surprises.
They got started in earnest in the early 2000s running the Teas For Two in Wanda Urban’s garden to raise money for the battle against breast cancer. They drew hundreds out and sometimes had to turn people away, the teas were so popular.
“After that, we did something for Rygiel Homes (support for community living) and we became The Blossom Committee,” says Colleen Billings. The special gym at Rygiel Homes was losing its funding, so the group resolved to make up the shortfall.
“The event had a floral theme and in all our communication we’d address each other as ‘little petals.’” That event was a big success. Their last one, in 2013, even bigger, raising $35,000 in one night for research into Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that inhibits the body’s ability to pro- duce moisture.
“It was called The Old Bags’ Cocktail and Fashion Show,” says Sharon. “The Old Bags was literal.” They amassed hundreds of purses and handbags for sale and auction.
They showed them off and much else in the fashion show for which the group got the models and fashion houses to donate their time and wares. They had all manner of purses, from gently-used to very high-end, with some expensive ones donated by the likes of Milli Fashions in Hamilton and Michael Coach.
“Deirdre Pike was our MC and she was hilarious,” says Sharon. “We raised $35,000 and we’re proud of that — just 20 women working out of their basements.” That’s how they do it. The Gatsby event is to raise money for music education, so young people who otherwise can’t afford it will be able to attend concerts, specifically the Brott Music Festival music education concert series.
“Jacqui knows most of us and we were talking about it,” says Mary Louise, who does a lot for music education. “We decided we wanted to help.” In August, they practically took over the Brott festival offices, working the phones.
And now it’s our turn. Who’s up for a little Lindy Hop? Come out to the gala.
For years, they’ve been quietly … raising a great deal of money. JACQUI TEMPLETON MUIR