By Brooke Curley
brooke@gilavalleycentral.net
THATCHER – Shopping, fashion and good food; what else can a woman want in a night out?
All of the basic night out needs were met and more at this year’s eighth annual Pamper Me Ladies Night Out on Thursday. Located at the Eastern Arizona College (EAC) Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center, the night out includes vendors, a fashion show and multiple raffles. This year’s “Deserving Divas” were local educators Teresa Boren, of Thatcher, Monica Hancock, of Pima, Juli Mullenaux Martins, of Fort Thomas and Stephany Robinson, of Safford. The Deserving Divas were treated with a makeover including free hair stylings, makeup and new outfits from local shops.
Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Valley Central: EAC Student Activities Facilitator, Patti Wren, is the creator of the ladies night out.
Patti Wren is the creator of the lady’s night out, and the EAC Student Activities Facilitator. Wren told Gila Valley Central that she personally isn’t much of a crowd person, but likes to organize. However, one of the elements she loves the most about the night out is that it’s a chance for local women to meet, visit and shop, all while acknowledging individuals in the community worthy of kudos.
“I love organizing things like this and putting things like this on, but I also love seeing people that I haven’t seen before or seeing women that I haven’t seen for a year,” Wren said. “I think that’s the coolest part of the whole event. Women just having the opportunity to see people they haven’t seen for a while. They get to talk; they get to shop; they get to support local businesses – local small business – and they get to recognize some fabulous women every year. It’s pretty cool.”
Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Valley Central: These are just some of the lovely items that were for sale at the event.
Although Wren said the social aspect is enjoyable, she believes the event’s charitable donations is even more fulfilling.
“The most rewarding thing is to be able to turn around and give money to people,” she said.
This year’s admission of roughly $1,000 will be donated to Marley Freddy, the 11-month-old daughter of Jacob and Vikki Freddy. Marley was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). This cancer is incredibly rare, with only one in a million children being diagnosed at such a young age. The Freddy family are Safford residents but must take Marley to Phoenix every week for treatment.
While Marley receives the admittance money, the Deserving Divas will receive this year’s raffle money. Each of the vendors provides a raffle, and the money earned by the raffle was given to the teacher to use for whatever they see fit. Each of the vendors provides a raffle, and the money we collect from that will go toward the teachers to help with their classroom.
“Each of them should receive a couple hundred dollars to help them with their classroom expenses,” Wren said. “Or to help them with their sanity expenses, with them being teachers.”
Whatever money is left over from the lady’s night will go to the “Save a Skyler” fund. Wren’s family created the Save a Skyler anti- bullying campaign and consistently strive to educate young people of the dangers of bullying.
Marley Freddy’s gofundme link is available below for those who wish to donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/baby-marley
