The Fort Smith Children’s Shelter Foundation is thrilled to announce the return of our ladies’ night out shopping event, SIP+SHOP+SUPPORT, on Thursday, May 4th at Hardscrabble Country Club. Once a winter-holiday shopping event, the event now returns after the pandemic as a spring time shopping event that will be focused on spring fashion trends, graduation, wedding season and Mother’s day. The funds raised this year will support activities for youth aging out of foster care through the GetREALU program.
We have partnered with many local merchants to bring a variety of shopping experiences, all under one roof, for an evening of fun and philanthropy! Our 2023 merchants include: Hazel’s Haven, Angela Vennum Art, Semi-Charmed Wife, 479.Linked, The Jewelry Store, The Smith, Lola Boutique, Lux Haus, Ann Appleton + Elizabeth Thames Designs, Elise + Lucy, Amazing Graze, Edible Ideaz, Especially For You, Lightsong Pottery, Hillside Pottery. Field & Flower, The Diamond Center, Creative Kitchen + MORE!
A beautiful 14K white gold necklace with 11 bezel set round cut diamonds, valued at $2450, donated by the Diamond Center, will be raffled off around 9:00PM! We also have many other items to raffle throughout the evening!! To preview these items and purchase raffle tickets prior to the event, please visit our social media pages: Facebook [GetREALFS] [GetREAL24FS] or Instagram [getrealfs].
A new feature this year is a “Project Runway” style fashion show that is being planned by GRU member, Phylis Savoy. Phylis wanted to get involved with fundraising efforts and had an amazing idea to theme a fashion show “Famous Art Pieces” by getting other youth in our community involved with the event. Phylis states, “It’s an honor to get to be a part of a community that shares a passion for serving others. Each and every one of the members in the GetREALU program is unique and talented. I truly cannot wait for the participants to have an opportunity to showcase that talent. For kids like myself who were at an unfortunate disadvantage from the start, sometimes an opportunity is all it takes to understand one’s potential.”
All sponsorships and ticket sales will go directly to our activities budget and will give youth in our program the chance to see educational plays, symphonies, visit new cities, and spark interests in opportunities that give them a chance to succeed. Lauren Pruitt, Director of Development, relates the experiences of her own life to why she is passionate about this fundraiser. “When we are young, our world is still pretty small,” Pruitt says. “It takes new experiences and seeing new places to give us perspective on what is really out there. When I was eighteen, I was able to go on a trip to Washington, D.C. that opened my eyes to how big the world is. It is these types of experiences that mold the lives of young people for the better and really empower them.”
Each ticket or table purchased for the evening of SIP+SHOP+SUPPORT will include heavy hors d’ oeuvres, complimentary drinks, as well as the best shopping around! For tickets, please visit: www.getrealu.org/events or call: [479] 783-0018 for more information. Checks are also accepted and can be mailed to: FS Children’s Shelter Foundation, 3015 South 14th Street, Fort Smith AR, 72901.
