Jazz highlights women's fund-raiser
Ritzy annual bash for family charities comes to Chandler
Jessica Wanke
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
After three years of being at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, a ritzy annual fund-raiser is moving to Chandler.
The fourth annual Wine, Women & Jazz, which benefits several charities serving women and children, will be at the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery of Western American and Native Art in Chandler on Sunday.
The evening benefit will feature performances by jazz divas Margo Reed, Delphine Cortez and Blaise Lantana. advertisement
Lantana, whose voice is heard nightly by people across the Valley on KJZZ-FM (91.5), a National Public Radio station that plays jazz weeknights after 7, coordinates the music for the event.
She was approached by event organizer Paula Cullison, president of the Arizona Women's Partnership, several years ago to participate in the first Wine, Women & Jazz and has been involved every year since.
"Women's issues are very important to me," said Lantana, adding that prior to her involvement in Wine, Women & Jazz, she supported women's issues but hadn't been actively involved.
She said she has enjoyed the chance to showcase jazz and help women.
"Some women don't have the support system that some of us have, and to be able to help people who need that feels good," she said.
Thirteen grass-roots organizations will benefit, including the Arizona Sexual Assault Network and The Clothes Silo, a women's boutique that provides professional clothing at no cost to women entering or re-entering the workforce through client-assistance programs.
The emphasis on women and children is the reason Chandler-based Bashas' agreed to underwrite the benefit and host it at the gallery, which is on the grounds of its corporate headquarters.
"It fits well into our ambience," said Alison Bendler, spokeswoman for Bashas'. "We're glad to provide the support that we can."
Lantana said the event in Chandler will have a laid-back and welcoming feel.
At $60 a ticket in advance, or $75 at the door, the cost isn't prohibitively expensive, Lantana said, but individuals can still feel good about donating a substantial sum to a good cause.
"The energy of it is really positive," Lantana said. "It has a down-home kind of feel."
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