BEAUTY COMES FROM THE HEART … Mother and daughter team and Relay Event Leadership Team Chairs Risa Trumbull and Brynn Trumbull show off the dresses they acquired from the Beauty Comes From the Heart organization. (PHOTO BY AMY WENDT, STAFF)
By: Amy Wendt
The Delta American Legion Post 373 halls were decked in holiday splendor for the Winter Gala 2022 fundraiser hosted by Relay for Life of Fulton County on Saturday, December 17.
The organization’s first-ever Gala was sold out at 200 tickets in the first week of December.
Proceeds from the fundraiser were split between Fulton County Relay for Life and the Scholarship Fund in Memory of Shannon McVey- Zimmerman, who lost her courageous battle with cancer on June 24, 2022.
In fact, Shannon McVey-Zimmerman originally came up with the idea of having an “adult prom” after being inspired by the works of another area organization, Beauty Comes From the Heart.
While Zimmerman was involved in the early stages of organizing the Winter Gala, due to her untimely passing, the gala became somewhat of a tribute to her in addition to a Relay fundraiser.
The gala organizers, also known as “Gala Girls,” Jennie Montoya and Lisa Hite explained that Zimmerman’s daughters, Mercedes, and Madison stepped up in their mother’s place and helped out tremendously with planning the event.
“She did so much for the community,” Zimmerman’s daughter, Madison, shared about her late mother.
Montoya and Hite agreed that Zimmerman would have been proud of her daughters for pitching in to help out with the event.
The overall feel of the evening was “fun, fancy, and festive.” While guests were free to wear anything they wanted, they were encouraged to dress up in formal wear to keep with the grown-up prom theme that Zimmerman envisioned months earlier.
Beauty Comes From The Heart opened up its doors to gala guests who were interested in picking out a formal dress.
All dresses were offered for a donation to CCFA for human trafficking survivors of Northwest Ohio.
Guests enjoyed heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts prepared by the “Gala Girls.”
There were also plenty of activities for partygoers to enjoy including a selfie station, dance music by a DJ, a silent auction, wine pull, 50/50 drawings, basket raffles, and even a Gala king and queen crowning.
Relay for Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. According to their website, “The Relay for Life movement is dedicated to helping communities attack cancer.”
“Through funds donated, time given, or awareness raised, our communities are teaming up – virtually or in person – to make a difference.”
Relay for Life of Fulton County will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at St. Caspar’s Catholic Church.
To become involved with a Relay team or to volunteer, visit www.relayforlife.org/fultoncounty.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer, the American Cancer Society has many resources that can help.
You may call their cancer helpline at (800)227-2345 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com