November 1, 2006

Bellarmine gets in style with annual fashion show

Bellarmine College Preparatory has announced that "Silhouettes of Style,” its 52nd Annual Mothers' Guild Fashion Show for Financial Aid, is Nov. 10 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. The event includes a luncheon and black-tie dinner dance.

Willow Glen women on the Bellarmine Fashion Show Committee that planned and will deliver the Silhouettes of Style fashion show for financial aid include, front row, from left, Kathy Raye, Kim Stapleton, Patricia Willis, Alma Fasano, Kim Loquaci, Sonja Cody, Catherine Edwards, Lynn Hillebrecht, Carrie Maietta and Jaynie Neveras; back row, Beth Leary, Mary Salcido, Margaret Glomb, Allyson Kovaleski, Kari Reilly, Rosie Habib, Christi Kelly (striped shirt), Ana Russo, Tiralisa Kaplow and Beth Martinez.

“This year’s fashion show theme is a tribute to the diversity of styles in our community,” said Jody Knauf, 2006 chair. “For the past 52 years, Bellarmine moms have been able to share their unique styles by delivering one of Silicon Valley’s most anticipated fund-raising events while achieving our goal of making a Bellarmine education a reality for young men who may not have this opportunity.”

“For 155 years, Bellarmine has maintained the tradition of educating adolescents while developing them to be men for others,’” said Fr. Paul G. Sheridan, S.J., Bellarmine’s president. “Through their efforts with this long-standing annual fashion show, the Bellarmine mothers are role models for their sons, exemplifying what it means to be women for others.”

All proceeds from the fashion show will be used to provide direct financial aid to qualified Bellarmine students and to the school’s Financial Aid Endowment. Nearly 20 percent of the student body will receive financial aid this year. Since the first fashion show in 1954, the Mothers’ Guild has donated more than $3 million to Bellarmine’s financial aid program. During the past two years, this sellout fashion show has contributed more than $500,000.

“Through the money raised at this annual event, highly qualified students that otherwise would not be able to attend, will benefit from a Catholic education in the Jesuit tradition,” said Mark Pierotti, Bellarmine’s principal.

Fashion for men, women and teens will be highlighted in the two shows on Nov. 10. Lunch guests are predominately women, while the black-tie dinner dance attracts couples. Fashions selected for this year’s show will be modeled by professionally trained and choreographed Bellarmine seniors, faculty and mothers as well as senior girls from Bay Area high schools.

Allen Denton and Lisa Kim, evening anchors for NBC 11, will emcee the donation drawing during the dinner black-tie event.

The fashion show will feature clothing designs from Santana Row and Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair, including Eli Thomas, Macy’s, Jessica McClintock, Talbots and Club Monaco. Photography is provided by Signature Images by Lori Rose, make-up by Stila Cosmetics and hair designs by Dustin David Salon, formerly Portfolio Salon.

The annual fashion show is traditionally a sold-out event with guests attending from throughout the Bay Area including the following counties: Santa Clara, San Benito, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin and Contra Costa.

For more information about the event, including donation prize drawings and purchasing lunch or dinner tickets, visit the Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild Web site at http://activities.bcp.org/mothers_guild or call the Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild at 408-294-9224, ext. 209.

About Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine College Preparatory has been educating young men since 1851, when it was originally founded on the campus of Santa Clara University. The school has been located on West Hedding in San Jose’s College Park district for more than 80 years. Bellarmine students are educated in the Jesuit tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and are encouraged to become “men for others.” While Bellarmine strives for academic excellence, the school also seeks to instill a sense of responsibility through a variety community ministry and service programs. Bellarmine has a current enrollment of 1,500 and a faculty/staff of 170.