Wine and Chocolate Tasting Brings Hope and Funds to Breast Cancer Survivors
Clearwater, FL, November 25, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Of the fifty attendees who participated in an Afternoon of Hats, Wine and Chocolates, only three were cancer survivors. However, in the Fort Harrison’s Crystal Ballroom that afternoon, all fifty gave their support to cancer survivors and benefitted My Hope Chest.
My Hope Chest is a charity that funds reconstructive surgery for women who have battled breast cancer. Guests were treated to five different wines and chocolates from gold-medal winning chocolatiers such as William Dean, Viktoria Richards and David Romero. Southern Wine and Spirits sponsored the wines, which came from the Kenwood Vineyards and Dead Bolt Wine.
"I realized how my own self-esteem, confidence and self worth as a woman returned when I could look in the mirror and see my whole "physical" being once again. It was my healing, a restoration in body mind and spirit."
Alisa Savoretti, Founder, My Hope Chest
Guests were encouraged to wear hats, and a prize was offered to the best hat. In this case, a hat made out of a bra, worn by Emily Walet, a staff member at Nationwide Title Company. Nationwide sponsored a table and 15 of their staff attended the event.
Serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies, Lisa Mansell, the Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology, welcomed the audience and encouraged them to find out more about My Hope Chest.
Ms. Savoretti addressed the guests and told her story as to how she founded this charity. She was 38 and uninsured when she found out that she had breast cancer. After a mastectomy and 5 months of treatment and chemotherapy, Ms. Savoretti was back on stage, billing herself as the "Lopsided Showgirl" and rebuilding her life. In living her own experience, Ms. Savoretti realized that there was a huge gap in treatment that existed for uninsured women.
My Hope Chest funds breast reconstructive surgery for uninsured and underinsured women all over the United States. Per their website there are four surgeons who donate their time to this cause, but there are many other aspects that need to be paid for. For more information on how you can help, please go to the My Hope Chest website.
The Fort Harrison is the International Religious Retreat of the Church of Scientology. Founded by humanitarian and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is an applied religious philosophy that provides fundamental answers to life.