14 North Shore Towers Courier n October 2016 Shop ’til You Drop The Ladies’ Golf Association Vendor Night Fundraiser for the American Cancer and American Heart Associations a rousing success Story and Photos by Stephen Vrattos Towers on the Green looked like a Turkish bazaar; tables and clothing racks, loaded with jewelry, wraps, coats, handbags, tchotchkes, sweaters, unique gifts, and more, both North Shore Towers Arcade vendors and local merchants selling their wares. It was all an extension of the Babes & Guys annual charity drive, held by the Ladies Golf Association every year. In the past, vendors donated a part of their proceeds of their July sales to the cause, but this year Ladies Golf President Theresa Oropallo decided to try something different: a special night of shopping for NST residents, with 20% of all proceeds going to either the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society, which help battle the two most prevalent women’s health concerns today. To sweeten the pot and add even more fun and excitement to the buying Bacchanalia, Oropallo and her team collected more than $1,000 worth of prizes to be raffled, from gift baskets to gift certificates, from such local merchants as Iavarone Brothers Gourmet Foods and Kitchen Kabaret, with one Grand Prize of a complete makeover, valued at $200-$250, donated by Ambiance Salon of Roslyn. Shoppers had two ways of entering. They could either buy raffle tickets out right and specify how many they like to place on particular items or receive a free raffle entry for every purchase they made at one of the vendors’ tables in the room. Triplicate receipts were used to ensure an extra copy for buyers to put in the big fish bowl on the table amidst the raffle prizes. Buffy and Angelo supplied a table of coffee, tea and snacks, but it wasn’t the free refreshments that attracted people; it was the merchandise. And by the crowds that swarmed the normally roomy catering hall throughout the night, “Shop ’til You Drop” was a big hit. According to Oropallo, the event raised more than $2,500 for the charities. More important, everyone had a great time, many attendees personally thanking Oropallo at the end of the evening, a nice coda to her reign as Ladies Golf President, which ends this season after a successful two years. Pouran featured her beautiful fashions, handbags and accessories Ladies Golf President and organizer Teri Oropallo shares her amazement with residents at the incredible prizes to be won 20-month-old Mia Melnikoff arrives early to get a jump on the bargains Denise Resnick of Tray Chic shows off her fun playing card designs Fran Gordon and Kathy Bitetti manned the raffle ticket table
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