GFWC IL featured York Furrier at their 22nd Annual Blue Ribbon Fashion Show

On Saturday, April 6th, York Furrier, Inc. located in the Elmhurst City Centre was honored to have members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) – IL stroll the runway fashionably attired in furs and fine outwear from the store’s 87th Anniversary Collection.

This year’s luncheon fashion show was especially memorable, as the fashion show’s original chair, Elmhurst’s Jackie Haddad passed away in October 2018. Jackie dedicated her life to enriching the lives of others through her involvement with numerous community organizations. She was President of the Elmhurst Women’s Club, Founder and a President for ECAF (Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation – f.y.i. – the group will be hosting their 25^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, 4/13/19 at River Forest Country Club), member of the Elmhurst Senior Commisson, President of the York Township’s Republican Women’s Organization, and the first chair of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s “Dream a Little Dream” fashion show. York Furrier is grateful to have known Jackie as a client, and appreciated the opportunity to provide product and fashion support for her many charitable endeavors throughout the decades.

The GFWC IL is a philanthropic organization devoted to community service by dedicated volunteers from the 200 plus clubs throughout the state. In partnership for 25 years with Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Illinois, the women of GFWC IL work tirelessly to fulfill the organization’s “Our Promise . . . A Safe Place for Every Child” as stated on their logo pin.

Decorated in blue and silver colors, Drury Lane served as this year’s Blue Ribbon Luncheon Fashion Show venue. After purchasing raffle tickets, guests were welcomed by Honorary Chairs, Shelli Fehr, GFWC IL President, and Cherie Sieger, GFWC IL Director of Junior Clubs. They were followed by Committee Members, Debbie Monteith, a member of the Elgin Jr. Women’s Club, and Mary Jo Murphy, the head of Signature Program Advancement, who encouraged guests to purchase the pin created to honor Jackie’s legacy. Before lunch was served, Martha Bein, past GFWC IL President, Board Member of PCA IL, and the recipient of the prestigious 2018 GFWC International Jennie Award, offered a moving invocation imploring all in attendance to be kind, gracious and caring to one another!

Tracey Tarantino DiBuono of Oak Brook based ZZAZZ Productions, kicked off the fashion show with dancers wearing colorful spring fashions from boutiques throughout Chicagoland. For the York Furrier segment of the fashion show, Kathy Rezny, welcomed the following GFWC IL members to the runway: Amy Vicioso, Marie Mueller, Martha Bein, Cherie Sieger, Annette Andretich-Gross, Teresa Sandord-Shipplet, Shelli Fehr, Jeanette T. Wells, and the daughter of Jackie Haddad, Jackie Haddad-Tamer. Audience favorites were the colorful fine fabric capes and hooded jacket with fur trim, the sheared and grooved beaver walking coats that reversed to reveal a rainsilk lining, a sable trimmed mink walking coat in a rich purple color, and the Peach Carr Designed clutch with jeweled cocktail glass carried by the President Elect, Teresa.