On the Town: Soroptimists gather on Leap Year Day for Bras for a Cause fundraiser
Glendale Soroptimist gals have a winner of a fundraiser in their annual Bras for a Cause. “A Magical Leap to the Future” was the theme of this 17th annual event held at the Glendale’s Glen Arden Club.
Honored was Pamela Good Ropfogel, teacher, community volunteer and budding stand-up comedienne. Also honored was Greg Krikorian, president and chief executive of Business Life magazine and a member of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education for 19 years.
On Leap Year Saturday (Feb. 29), some 200 Bras for a Cause supporters were treated to a social hour filled with a photo booth, wine pull, magical raffle baskets, a 50/50 drawing and nonstop hors d’oeuvres. And those were just during the the first hour of the evening.
Once the program got underway, Soroptimist President Martha Wilson and the event’s master of ceremonies, Randy Slaughter welcomed their audience and introduced the many dignitaries present. Two of the VIPs were among the bra judges — Glendale Police Chief Carl Povilaitis and Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas. Both had a difficult time deciding which of the 20 decorated bras on display and up for auction should be winners. But those announcements were to come later in the evening.
Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian and his wife Palmira were among the early arrivals. Other politicos present included state Sen. Anthony Portantino and state Assemblywoman Laura Friedman. Glendale City Council members attending were Vartan Gharpetian and wife Armine and Paula Devine and husband Art.
Dinner, entertainment by magician David Gabbay, and a lively, live auction preceded the honoree awards. Ropfogel movingly described her bout with breast cancer in 2005. Now a 15-year cancer “thriver,” she detailed her good fortune including her 2007 marriage to Stephen Ropfogel.
Krikorian introduced his wife, Christine, and his five children, Shant, Gyaneh, Haig, Armen and Seran, all in attendance to support Dad. Krikorian remarked, “Being recognized by Soroptimist makes this award all the more meaningful as the relationship between us goes back to my father.”
Last on the program was the awarding of the decorated bras by Bras Co-Chairs Carol Ann Burton and Kathy Lefkovits. One of the winners was created by Susan “Purple” Jekarl, artist, community volunteer and comedienne, on and off the stage. Her “Magical Leap” bra, sponsored by Glendale Kiwanis, won “Most Unique.” A bidding war had taken place over the bra featuring a little cannibal between the cups covered with jungle decorations. Definitely “unique.”
The more than $35,000 in proceeds will help provide community women and girls access to training and education.
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On March 14 and 15 watch for the “Lamb of God” Easter oratorio hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4550 Raymond Ave. in La Crescenta. Also participating are other churches in the Crescenta Valley and Glendale areas.
This free program will begin at 7 p.m. on both nights.
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Also put on your calendar March 16, for “Comedy Knight” presented by Comic Cure and Glendale Arts. At 7 p.m. sharp, comedians from Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central will be featured on stage at Glendale’s Chess Park Tavern, 231 N. Brand Blvd. Then “The Clean Comedy Challenge” worth $100 in cash prizes takes place. Ten more stand-up comics will entertain you with PG material, no R ratings allowed.
The show will be hosted by comic Richy Leis and produced by Genesis Sol and Valerie Douroux Schultz.
