Foundation gets dressed up for the kids’ sake

Dig through the trunk in the attic for vintage clothing. Don’t worry about the mothballs. Just squeeze into a flapper dress, accessorize it with a long strands of beads and a Gibson Girl hat, or slip into a vintage black, sequined evening gown. Men, try on that old tuxedo or pin stripe suit and fedora.p Don these classic 1920’s clothes for a fund-raising luncheon to benefit neglected and abused children in Washington state Oct. 21 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club.p According to Fran Johnson, co-chair of the event, “this is one event where guests can wear what they already have or what their grandmothers have.”p The South Whidbey Mardi Unit of Ryther Guild Child Center — a home for neglected children located in Seattle since 1883 — sponsors an annual luncheon to raise funds for the residential and outpatient facility and school. The theme of this year’s event is “Memories in Grandma’s Attic.” The event will include a silent auction, raffle and door prizes.p Decorations will be in tune with the 1920s with a collector car and classic decor that, according to Johnson, would make “our grandmothers feel right at home.”p “We have really gone all out with a theme this year. Donors can expect to see a vintage car parked at the the event, and will hear jitterbug and big band music,” Johnson said.p Though the theme of the luncheon is lighthearted, the cause is much more serious.p “This is one way we can reach out to youth in crisis,” Johnson said.p There are 25 members in South Whidbey’s Ryther Guild which was formed in 1954 by Betty Rosemeyer.p Ryther Child Center is a regional center in Seattle for children. It provides residential care for abused children, 30-day dependency treatment for 12- to 17-year-olds, assists with behavior problem children and helps abused children by providing one week of residential treatment and outpatient counseling for families in crisis.p Ryther’s main campus is in White Center. Twenty-five percent of Ryther’s budget comes from local fund-raising activities.

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