Cocktails, charity and celebration — all drenched in hues of pink — set the mood for Komen Austin's third annual Perfectly Pink Party. More than 400 attendees put on their pink and gathered at Brazos Hall on Saturday night to celebrate strength and survival.
The evening began with a VIPink Party on the Brazos Hall rooftop featuring hors d' oeuvres along with pink champagne and the evening’s signature drink: a pink sugar-rimmed cucumber margarita. Guests mingled at high-top tables, struck poses at the photo booth and picked up goodie bags from The Boutique on Stonelake.
Following the reception, attendees enjoyed a dinner from Sterling Affairs. Guests feasted on sea bass with legumes in citrus beurre blanc and mousseline potatoes, while plucking from swords of jumbo shrimp, tenderloin filets and quail. Dessert followed in the form of mini chocolate tulips filled with passion fruit mousse and a buffet of candies, pistachio-crusted cake balls and mini deconstructed strawberry shortcakes.
As the crowd dined, Christy Casey-Moore of Komen Austin announced the recipients of the third annual Pink Diamond Awards. Rick Reeder, a six-year Komen Austin volunteer, received the Outstanding Volunteer Award; Stacy and Gary Mefford, cancer survivor and co-survivor, received the Ana Sierra Warrior Award; Community Action, Inc. received the Outstanding Advocacy Award; Megan Hancock, Race for the Cure participant and team organizer, received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award; and Wells Fargo received the Community Partner Award.
The Pink Diamond Awards were a moving portion of the evening, says Lydia Perez of Community Action, Inc. Perez is a former colleague of Ana Sierra for whom the Warrior Award was renamed after she lost her 11-year battle with cancer. “For us, it’s an absolute privilege serving the community,” says Perez. “We are a very passionate team and Komen makes our job easier. It’s a privilege to do what we do and it’s even more of a privilege to be a part of this recognized group.”
When dinner concluded, Brazos Hall transformed into an all-out bidding war during the live auction. Attendees took home prizes including a Cabo dream getaway, a ride along with Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo and a 2.5-carat diamond ring from Cedar Park Jewelry.
The evening ended with a rooftop Club Pink after party where ladies slipped on pink Komen flip-flops (for better twirls on the dance floor) and guys channeled their inner party-animal with pink glow-in-the-dark shades. The Perfectly Pink Party was a glamorously pink success, raising more than $367,000 to further fund breast cancer research and treatment.
All donations received in conjunction with the Komen Austin Perfectly Pink Party go directly to further advance research and treatment. 75 percent of all funds raised by Komen Austin treat women and men in the Austin area. More information about Komen Austin’s initiatives can be found here.
Chrisy Casey-Moore, executive director of Komen Austin.
