Key West does its part every October to “save the tatas” for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the island’s signature fundraising events is Womankind’s BraZaar bra auction.
The event pairs the creativity of Key Westers who make the bras with the cool confidence of the women who model them for the live auction.
“This year was amazing,” said Cali Roberts, executive director of Womankind. “We raised approximately $65,000, which is a record. A couple approached me after the show and gave me a $25,000 donation. Thanks to the Fowlers, who own property here and said they’re able to spend more time in Key West and are happy to be a part of our community. We’re so grateful to them and everyone else who supports our efforts to provide mammograms to uninsured women.”
Local personality Erin McKenna emceed the show with Chase Hurst, “who’s actually our finance director,” Roberts said. “They were fantastic. And everyone loved seeing the ‘Golden Girls’ in their bras, which raised about $3,400.”
Dozens of women pledged after the show to either create a bra or model one next year, Roberts said. “If I had a dollar for everyone who said that, I’d never have to do another fundraiser in my life. But this one was fantastic. We’re so appreciative and it just felt great to be back in the socializing and fundraising realm again.”
Photos by LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
WomanKind’s BraZaar bra auction combines irreverent humor and the indomitable spirit of women, who create and model artistic bras to be auctioned off so Womankind, Key West’s women’s health center, can provide mammograms.
