By Jamie O’Toole
Bright red, studded pumps with more sparkle than Dorothy’s slippers; strappy black stilettos; elaborately embroidered cowboy boots; lacey yellow sling-backs with a summery flair- Every kind of shoe imaginable could be seen at the Fifth Annual Sassy Shoe Social as ladies lined up to strut their stuff on the runway for a charitable cause.
“I love shoes,” said Caffé Capri owner Rami Cerone, one of the evening’s judges and a four-year attendee of the event. “And I love seeing how happy the event makes everyone. The women feel attractive and get to be show-offy and it is just a lot of fun.”
While in a leadership position in the American Business Women’s Association, Sheree Boegner founded the Sassy Shoe Social as a fun event for the women in the organization. It was held at a small venue in Bryan and then at Caffé Capri the following year to accommodate the growing guest list.
After another successful social, Boegner began to think on how she could expand the show and make it more than just a social event. Sticking to the theme of shoes, a friend suggested that she run a shoe drive to benefit the local women’s shelter, Phoebe’s Home.
“We have been able to take something fun and turn it into something that could help other people,” says Boegner as she looked around the bustling room Saturday night.
Last year was the first as a fundraiser for Phoebe’s Home and was moved to the Best Western Atrea in Bryan. This year the event served as both a fundraiser for Project Playroom, an extreme renovation plan for the children’s area at the shelter, and a kick-off for the shoe drive that will be held locally for the next month.
The show itself was lively and good-natured. Nearly 40 women participated, wearing everything from designer heels to house slippers. Even a few young contestants joined in, notably Cerone’s five-year-old daughter, who walked the catwalk in her sparkling Hello Kitty flats.
The night included a silent auction with all of the proceeds going to Project Playroom. More than $1300 was raised for the cause and kicked off the ongoing shoe drive.
The red pumps may have stolen the best all around shoe award, but the highlight of the evening was the generosity shown in response to a local need.
For more information and donation locations, visit www.facebook.com/sassyshoesocial.
