Greater Keller Women’s Club Says Bonjour at 27th Foundation Fundraiser

Oh la la la! What a belle day it was when the Greater Keller Women’s Club Foundation opened the doors Saturday to its 2023 Garden of Roses Fundraiser at The Bowden event center in Keller.

Realtor Debbie Vinson and Keller volunteer Dorene Badalamenti co-chaired the annual spring event, giving this year’s a French theme amid a lavender color scheme. Eiffel Tower? Oui — one made of steel-colored balloons graced the stage. Lavender? But of course, mon cheri — on the tables, in the food, and in the drinks.

It was as busy as the Champs Elysees that morning with bonjours all around. Seems the women and men of northeast Tarrant County were ready to leave their homes for a day among friends. Happy to see each other, French-style cheek kissing was the popular greeting.

The mid-day fête began with silent auction bidding, while attendees sipped on the signature cocktail, “Bulles de Lavande,” or a lavender-infused sparkling wine. Tres chic, don’t you think, to shop while sipping bubbles?

It wasn’t just the bartender who ran with the French theme. The guests gave a wink to the French in their own way. Berets, which Coco Chanel famously first sent models down the runway wearing, were adopted by several. Another table wore coordinated iconic striped t-shirt ensembles, oh so reminiscent of Chanel’s 1917 nautical collection.  

Bienvenue With a Champagne Pop

The program opened with a welcome — all in French — was delivered via Joanne Viaud, native French speaker, club member, and co-owner of Metroplex Balloons, the creators of the balloon Eiffel Tower. A champagne cork pop from the bar appropriately punctuated her remarks. “Perfect timing,” laughed party attendee Lauren Baccus, community relations liaison for Tri-County Electric. Following foundation board president Greg Kocian offered his English version of bienvenue then came “The Double Ds,” as co-chairs Debbie and Dorene like to refer to themselves.

The live auction featured the lively duo of CBS 11’s Ginger Allen, an investigative reporter who knew purple was the color of the day,  and “burnin-money” Rick Stacy, former Southlake mayor and founder of Stacy Furniture & Design.

For 27 years, fashion has been a feature of the women’s club’s luncheon fundraiser. French themes set the tone. The show opened with strains of Edith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose” and slides of French icons such as the Mona Lisa, the Arc de Triomphe, and storefronts of Chanel while spring styles from Dillard’s highlighted the ballroom’s runway.

And “en rose” it was. Pink, not some subtle candy pink, but hot pink and fuschia dominated. Doesn’t every Texas Realtor need a hot pink short suit — business blazer on top, shorts on the bottom — for the summer heat? The model for that cute combo was Realtor Jenilee Harwell, who got to show off her Cowtown marathon legs in this adorable outfit.

Too much for some? Then there was another blazer-skort combo for the more conservative dressers. We all know lookin’ good is part of the gig for North Texas Realtors.

Real Estate Pros Taking Time Out

Real estate professionals took the time to attend Saturday’s fundraiser. Seen in the crowd were Cassandra Garcia, Jeanette Tipps, silent auction chair Cyndi Lawson, Debbie Dodge, and program chair Marcie Russell. Angela Carney was there with her hubby Chris Carney, but she didn’t even get to finish her lunch because of hectic showing appointments.

The Bowden’s chef, Erwin Turalba, made it a lunch no one would want to miss. A salade niçoise, chicken cordon bleu with pomme puree, haricot verts, croissants, and a lavender-infused poached pear with chocolate ganache drizzle.

Even with this French theme, the Greater Keller Women’s Club Foundation’s goal is all-American: to raise money for Keller high school scholarships and North Texas charities. The event planners were pleased. Numbers are still pouring in, but organizers are hopeful the outcome will exceed last year’s.

“It was tres jolie,” said a happy Debbie Vinson after the successful event. “The committee was great, and the day was magnifique.”