The Ladies Leukemia League, Inc. held their annual “Fete de Noel” at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside grand ballroom. The fête honored Mr. Bingle with the theme “Soar for a Cure.”
This year, over 1,200 attendees joined in the festivities, which topped off with the presentation of $125,000 in grants for 2016-’17. In attendance and honored were young people fighting cancer, Emily Peters and Annabelle Thomas, and the mother-daughter duo of Ronny Michel and Elise Southwick. Paula Pizzaloto served as Event Chair, with Co-Chair Meb Cefalu.
LLL President Jeri Landry delivered welcoming remarks, and Camille Whitworth of WDSU-TV served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The ceiling-height Christmas tree sparkled to life as the “Light the Tree” names were read.
The opening ceremony was followed by the highlight of the day: the Dillard’s fashion show, “A Day To Play – The New Orleans Way.” The upbeat show featured scenes including: Bingle Jingle, The French Quarter-Morning Til Night, Audubon Zoo, Crescent City Casino, Taste of the Town, Saints and Mardi Gras Ball. Mr. Bingle and Santa joined the models on stage for a show stopping ending complete with a “throw me a Mr. Bingle.” LLL member Joyce Coleman is the Dillard’s liaison for the group.
The fête featured over 100 silent auction items, including an Apple iPad, Aucoin Hard David Yurman earrings, a Southwest Airlines round-trip for two, a Brahmin Duxbury Weekender, a Dillard’s $500 shopping spree, a Riverside Hilton Weekend Stay and more.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
What: “Fete de Noel,” benefiting Ladies Leukemia League, Inc.
When: Thursday, December 1, 2016
Where: New Orleans Hilton Riverside
