‘Catwalk for a Cause’ benefit fashion show-auction set for May 5

SAN FRANCISCO — Catwalk for Cause is raising funds for two underprivileged Filipino groups serving breast cancer patients and survivors in San Francisco and orphaned and street children in Manila.

The benefit fashion show will be held on Friday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m. at Fort McKinley Restaurant.

It is organized by Pilipino Senior Resource Center (PSRC), a 501(c)(3) a nonprofit organization that serves Filipino seniors and families, and Filipina breast cancer clients/survivors residing in the South of Market District and other areas in San Francisco, along with the San Francisco Bay Area Ateneans (SFBAA), Share and Give and Ms. Gia Galicia.

Catwalk for a Cause will be hosted by Cecile Gregorio Ascalon, executive director of the Pilipino Senior Resource Center (PSRC). The event opens with the silent auction and cocktails from a no-host bar. A Filipino buffet dinner follows, while by DJ Gilby and live performers provide the entertainment.

The main event of the evening is a Fashion Show featuring clothes by Gia Galicia and other esteemed designers. Dancing and conclusion of the silent auction will wrap up the evening.

The event is also sponsored by TFC-The Filipino Channel, Lifestyle Network – The TFC Premium Channel, and Delegata.

Proceeds of Catwalk for a Cause will be given to both Precious Heritage Orphanage for the orphaned and street children in the Philippines, and to PSRC’s Filipina Breast Cancer Support Services.

Gia Galicia is a Filipina fashion designer who loves doing fashion shows that raise money for charitable causes. She created the Share+Give Initiative to help raising funds for the breast cancer victims and initiatives supporting children in foster care.

Galicia requested her friends to donate designer items, which will be auctioned off, together with some of her donations. Her friends who were kind enough to donate designer items include Monique Lhuillier, Tadashi Shoji, Rebecca Taylor, Black Halo, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, Coach, Furla and D&G.

Moreover, Galicia’s fashion designer friends also pitched in: Otsirave by Carlo Evaristo; Adrine Karapetyan; Rolando Carlin; Yennie Lam and Eva Mejl.

“Let us be one in giving and sharing a hope with our less fortunate fellows,” said Galicia.

The SF Bay Area Ateneans was created to keep Ateneans connected through Facebook and LinkedIn for networking purposes, common interests, each other’s company, and be of service to Filipino Americans and Filipinos in the Philippines. There are currently over 300 members in Facebook, all aiming to be better in all that they do (Magis), to be men and women for others “for the greater glory of God (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam).”

Pilipino Senior Resource Center (PSRC) provides comprehensive quality services for at-risk Filipino seniors and their families living in the South of Market area and surrounding neighborhood and counties of San Francisco where there are large Filipino populations.

It was founded by Isidra Macaraeg in January 2006. In 2007, PSRC began subcontracting with Asian Pacific Advocates (APA) to provide Family Hotline Services.

In 2008, PSRC was granted funding by the AVON Foundation and San Francisco General Hospital Foundation in order to provide comprehensive support services to breast cancer patients and survivors.

Eventually, PSRC was also able to receive funding from To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2016, PSRC was awarded funding from the Asian Pacific Family Resource Network (APIFRN) for caregiver/parenting classes and family advocacy. PSRC serves over 800 clients annually, and that number continues to increase each year.

For more information, go to www.catwalkforacause.com