by Christine Fonville
March 17, 2015 10:38 AM
This Saturday evening, local residents can help local breast cancer survivors by attending the 14th annual Pink Affair gala.
The event, which will feature live and silent auctions, complimentary wine and beer, music, dancing and hors d’oeuvres, will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Retreat at Perimeter Summit, 1001 Summit Blvd. in Brookhaven for the first time since the gala began.
Event committee chair Kathy Smith said the reason for the venue change this year is because the event continues to grow.
“This began as my sorority group’s efforts to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and during our first event, we decided we would have a white elephant auction and ended up raising $1,800, which we were very proud of for our first year,” she said. “It’s now become an annual event that has gotten bigger and bigger, so we’re very excited to host it right at Perimeter this year and provide a more spacious venue.”
Proceeds from the gala will benefit TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, a Sandy Springs-based nonprofit that started in 2003 to assist local women with breast cancer. It provides physical and massage therapy, nutritional information, exercise classes and counseling.
Smith said she hopes new elements at this year’s event — including the new location and a live band — will keep encouraging growth in attendance.
“Last year we had our gala in a country club and with about 200 people, the space was too crowded,” she said. “The growth and evolution of the event has been great and this will be our first year having a live band and genuine auctioneer, which adds another element of fun.”
Smith said the main goal of the gala is to help raise both money and awareness for an organization that does so much good in the greater Atlanta community.
“After surgery and during treatment, people need help to do everyday tasks like driving and cooking and I feel that TurningPoint gives these women their lives back so they can continue to do the things they loved doing before cancer,” Smith said. “All you need to do is walk into their clinic to get a sense and feeling of warmth and I wish everyone knew what a wonderful place it is.”
Jill Binkley, executive director of the nonprofit, said the average $40,000 raised at each event in the past years since its inception have helped the clinic help more than 35 new patients per month and more than 400 patients per year.
“Two goals of the Pink Affair gala are to increase awareness and fundraise for the clinic,” Binkley said. “Most of the fundraising helps us to support our financial assistance program and education programs, empowering women with the information they need free of charge.”
Binkley said the nonprofit is the only organization of its kind in the Southeast.
Attire for the gala is business casual.
If you go:
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Retreat at Perimeter Summit, 1001 Summit Blvd. in Brookhaven
Cost: $100 per ticket
Information: (770) 360-9271 and www.myturningpoint.org
Read more: Neighbor Newspapers – Pink Affair gala to help breast cancer survivors
