The evening will begin with a cocktail reception featuring a signature Plymouth gin ice bar and silent auction in The Spanish Foyer. A display of show-stopping fashion is always the standard at the �Evening of Hope.� This year is no exception as Sway & Cake flaunts its latest women�s looks; Turgeon Raine Jewellers shines brilliantly with bejewelled models; and Gene Juarez Salons & Spas crowns it all with the latest looks in hair and makeup. MaxMara, the fashion sponsor of this year�s event, will show women�s spring fashions on models during the live auction.

As guests enter The Spanish Ballroom, they will be greeted with vibrant spring colors that complement the event�s garden theme. Executive Chef Gavin Stephenson will create a special four-course dinner for guests to feast on. The elegant black tie affair is topped off with late night dessert, a port bar and dancing to the sounds of Pearl D�Jango in The Spanish Foyer.

A significant part of the fundraising efforts for the evening, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on extraordinary items and dazzling one-of-a kind food, wine, fashion and travel packages. Live the Tuscan dream with a one week stay in a private, luxurious villa located in the beautiful undiscovered village of Montisi, complete with a local culinary experience. Have the world at your feet with a year�s supply of shoes provided by Mario�s � every woman�s fantasy come true. Unique lifestyle packages include an exclusive Seattle Art Museum tour and cocktail party, led by Executive Director Mimi Gates; a day of river rafting on the Wanatchee River with some of the men from the 2008 Fire Fighter Calendar, courtesy of Wildwater River Tours; or a chance to win a $5,000 gift certificate to Turgeon Raine Jewellers, with the purchase of a $100 raffle ticket.

2008 �Evening of Hope� beneficiaries, Plymouth Housing Group (PHG) provides supportive housing in their 13 buildings throughout downtown Seattle for more than 1000 individuals who would otherwise be homeless. With the funds raised at last year�s �Evening of Hope,� PHG was able to complete its $52 million Capital Campaign, which added 300 units of affordable and supportive housing for homeless adults in Seattle. The last project of the campaign, the Simons Senior Apartments on 3rd & Blanchard is opening its doors to homeless seniors and veterans January 17, 2008.

Jeff and Tricia Raikes focus their philanthropic efforts on education, youth and community priorities, such as homelessness. Together they co-chaired United Way of King County�s 2006-2007 fundraising campaign. Tricia had served two, three-year terms on United Way of King County�s board of directors and Jeff previously chaired the high-tech campaign for United Way of King County.

�Evening of Hope� co-chairs René Neidhart, general manager of the Renaissance Seattle Hotel and Daniel Spurgeon, general manager of the Executive Hotel Pacific, along with countless volunteers from the Seattle Hotel Association and Plymouth Housing Group, continue to help make this fundraiser a success. The 2008 event is presented by Washington Mutual, is sponsored by Microsoft and the fashion sponsor is MaxMara. Tickets, priced at $400 per person, are available by contacting Event Director Suzanne Hight at 206-236-6167. 

Leveraging the collective strength of 53 downtown Seattle hotels, the Seattle Hotel Association gathers an impressive roster of products, services and live auction items each year. The Association has raised over $3.7 million in its charitable efforts.

Meg Paynor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 206-287-4056