A hurricane delay didn’t dampen the fun or generosity at Tats for Tatas, the annual breast cancer benefit presented for the past three years by Tattoos & Scars Saloon, which partnered with Womankind, a nonprofit women’s health center.
’Twas a night for breast cancer battlers and “breast enthusiasts” in Key West, where the admonition, “My eyes are up here,” didn’t apply.
Tattoos & Scars Saloon held this year’s event on Oct. 16, helping Womankind provide free and/or affordable mammograms and breast exams in the Monroe County area. The ever-growing event this year expanded to a block party outside on Ann Street.
Funds were raised throughout the evening from event sponsors, individual donations, a silent auction, hair braid stations, body and face paint stations, donation-based photo opportunities with showgirls, and of course, a “motorboat” booth, where donors instantly knew their money was going to a good cause. The staff also donated all their tips, and bar owner Casey Vinall, who sponsors the event that was created three years ago by bartender Maria Gonzalez, donated all proceeds from drink sales during the three-hour event. In its first two years, Tats for Tatas raised over $120,000 for Womankind, with the total growing each year. This year’s event raised an estimated $93,000 and counting, with donations and silent auction proceeds still coming in, bringing the three-year grand total to more than $200,000.
Tats for Tatas this year packed the 13-year-old bar, which was bathed in pink light.
When asked why he decided to be a sponsor, Tom Wolfe, a local investor in Bombora Vodka, told the Keys Weekly, “What can I say? As a guy, I like titties.” He laughed and pointed to his Hawaiian shirt that was decorated with breasts and his hat with the same motif. “Kidding aside, though, we love what Womankind is doing in the area and we just want to support the health of Key West women,” Wolfe added.
His company supplied plenty of Bombora Vodka as well as giant, inflatable pink ribbons for the outdoor decorations on Ann Street. Another sponsor, the Barchetta Charitable fund, donated $50,000 to Womankind that night.
“When we started this whole thing we were just trying to raise enough money for Womankind to provide free mammograms.” said Vinall. “Now that we’ve been able to raise a lot more for them, they’ve been able to provide additional services for prevention, breast cancer awareness literature and financial assistance to help women pay for treatment and transportation to appointments.”
