2009 Women's Resource Center Extravaganza

Published: January 18, 2009 09:32 am

Happy Days? Nonprofit looks to '50s-theme fundraiser in gloomy economy

By MARTA HEPLER DRAHOS
mdrahos@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- These days are anything but happy for most nonprofit organizations, but that isn't stopping the Women's Resource Center from looking to its 1950s-theme fundraiser for help.

The 15th Women's Resource Center Extravaganza will take place Feb. 7 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, and organizers are hoping to capitalize on the popular event -- sub-titled "Happy Days" after the nostalgic TV situation comedy -- despite tough economic times.

The center's largest annual fundraiser, the Extravaganza netted about $80,000 in 2008 and about $100,000 in 2007, said Executive Director Jo Bullis. That's between 4 and 5 percent of the organization's overall budget.

"It would be nice to think that we would have the same results (this year), but I honestly can't predict that at the moment," said Bullis, who oversees the center's programs and services for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. "We know that we'll make some money, but we're not certain that we'll make as much as in past years."

To help improve the odds, Bullis said the organization has revamped the fundraiser and cut expenses for it by half over the last two years. It changed the event's format from black-tie to costume, lowered ticket prices from $125 to $95, and eliminated the traditional Harley-Davidson motorcycle raffle prize -- a portion of which the center paid for -- in favor of a downtown Traverse City shopping spree featuring goods and services donated by more than 25 merchants and restaurants.

"The Harley had been done for years and years," said Extravaganza chairwoman Allison Beers, who also manages events for the Traverse City Film Festival. "It just got to the point that we weren't making enough on the tickets. So last year we switched to the downtown spree and we're doing the same this year. Everything is donated, so we'll make a 100 percent profit on the raffle this year."

A professional event planner who is volunteering her services for the Extravaganza, Beers began planning in July and said the biggest challenge has been getting corporate sponsorship.

"That's been especially hard," said Beers, owner of Events North, which is juggling the fundraiser around upcoming weddings and a tall ship festival for the Maritime Heritage Alliance. "People who have given in the past are giving half or not at all this year."

The interactive Extravaganza is expected to draw about 400 supporters, from attorneys and local law enforcement officials, to business people, to those who have sought the center's help, Bullis said. Besides the raffle and a '50s-style dance to covers by The Fabulous Oldies But Goodies Band -- think "Be Bop-A-Lula," "Mustang Sally" and "La Bamba" -- the event includes games, hula-hoop and twist-off contests, and a '50s-style dinner with lettuce wedge salad, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup and a mashed potato bar.

There's also a silent auction and costume contests for those brave enough to come in June Cleaver housedresses, poodle skirts, sharkskin suits and other vintage dress.

"Guys have it easy," said Beers, who plans to design her own costume around a pink cashmere sweater set. "They can just wear jeans and a white T-shirt and call it a day."

Decor chairman Carolyn Vaughan and her committee of six has been working all month to transform the Governor's Hall at the resort into a soda shop complete with black-and-white-checked table coverings and oversized "malt" centerpieces.

A former St. Francis Gladhander volunteer and a territory representative for Hallmark, Vaughan combed Wal-Mart stores across Michigan and Indiana for special "malt glass" vases to hold the centerpieces: pink and white carnation "ice cream," PVC "straws" and red Christmas ornament "cherries."

"Everywhere I went I bought vases because they were a discontinued item and I needed 50," said Vaughan, who also collected vinyl records from the Women's Resource Center Thrift Shop to hang from the ceilings.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and cocktails, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets can be ordered online at www.womensresourcecenter.org or by calling the center at 941-1210.

Raffle tickets are $50 or three for $100 and are available by phone, at the Thrift Shop and at the event. The raffle package -- valued at around $2,000 -- includes a private massage party for four at Living Light Massage and Wellness Center, a private wine tasting for 10 including appetizers at Folgarelli Import Market, and a "getting started" package with five private Pilates sessions courtesy of Pure Pilates.

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