Held at the Bakerview Restaurant (Chief Petty Officers’ Club) in Oak Harbor on Feb. 25, the first annual Whidbey Island Soroptimist Red Dress Ball was a huge success and a great evening!

The Whidbey Island Soroptimist clubs of South Whidbey, Coupeville and Oak Harbor would like to thank Whidbey Island Bank, all of the community members who attended this event and Soroptimist members for their donations and show of support for our “Heart of a Woman” program at Whidbey General Hospital, which funds heart-health screenings for women in our communities who are unable to afford cardiovascular health screening.

With a no-host bar and true offering of scrumptious “heavy” hors d’oeuvres, including salmon, a Pacific Northwest favorite, the evening began at 6 p.m. with Soroptimists and guests from all over Whidbey mixing, meeting and greeting one another. The array of the color red was to be found everywhere, from event décor, to dresses, shoes, jewelry, hose, shirts and ties. It was MAH-VELOUS!

Raffle tickets were sold throughout the event for the chance to win one of three gift baskets, sponsored by each of the island’s three clubs. Each basket was unique and featured themes of rest, relaxation and health, with contents including a Hawaii vacation package, spa treatments, chocolate, wine and much more!

Following introductions of the Red Dress Ball planning committee and VIP attendees, a brief talk and slide presentation on “Women and Heart Disease” was made by guest speaker, David Jessup, MD, FACC, RPVI. Thank you to Dr. Jessup for sharing his expertise and a few of the personal results from women who have benefited from heart-health screenings.

Whidbey Island Bank gave a generous contribution to jump-start the donations for the evening. Thank you Whidbey Island Bank for your sponsorship! This was followed by a “raise your paddle” for individual donations to the “Heart of a Woman” program.

Dancing began with the music of the local band, “Mojo Filter” entertaining with 60’s-80’s songs. Many thanks to the band for the great music and their in-kind donation!

Altogether, the evening’s festivities and subsequent donations brought in over $8,300 for the Whidbey Soroptimists’ “Heart of a Woman” program!  Money raised will fund over 125 heart-health screenings for Whidbey Island women!

Thank you so much!

Soroptimist International of South Whidbey, Coupeville and Oak Harbor