The Tribune

THE Red Dress Soiree announced NewCo 2015 as the title and digital sponsor of the 2016 Red Dress Soiree at a press conference on Wednesday.

“NewCo 2015 is proud to support The Red Dress Soiree as the title and digital sponsor,” said Bianca Bethel Sawyer, events, sponsorship and community manager of NewCo 2015. “We are committed to positively impacting the communities in which we operate, especially through youth based initiatives. We embrace this opportunity to assist The Bahamas AIDS Foundation to ensure that adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS are given every opportunity to flourish.”

Now in its third year, the event, dubbed the ‘Glamorous Giveback’ is a high-energy event that honours exceptional Bahamian ‘Leading Ladies’ and celebrates Bahamian designers, all while supporting the work of The Bahamas AIDS Foundation.

“We are also excited to recognise and celebrate the success, sacrifice, hard work and talent of the 12 Leading Ladies as well as the creative Bahamian designers who create the red gowns for the Leading Ladies to showcase at the event,” said Diana Sands, NewCo 2015 public relations manager.

Twenty-four women have been honoured since the event’s inception in 2012. This year, dozens of ‘Leading Lady’ nominations were received during the public call for nominees from August 8 to August 31.

A selection committee of former women honoured pored over the nominees and selected 12 ‘Leading Ladies’ to be honoured at this year’s gala event to be held Saturday, December 10 at Atlantis, Paradise Island. Tickets are available for a donation of $225.

The 12 Leading Ladies will take the runway and showcase haute couture red gowns created by twelve Bahamian designers.

The 2016 Leading Ladies include: Kim Aranha, designer Apryl Burrows; Andrea Archer, designer Gillian Curry-Williams; Marion Bethel-Sears, designer Theodore Elyett; Kayleaser Deveaux-Isaacs, designer Anthea Bullard; Kim Gibson, designer Patrice Lockhart; Felicity Humblestone, designer Javotte Bethell; Dr Kim Johnson-Scriven, designer Brynda Knowles; Janet Kemp, designer Rudolph Brown; Christine King, designer Myrlande Julien; Charlene McPhee, designer Ria Georgina; Alana Major, designer Phylicia Ellis; and Neulessa Major, designer Kathy Pinder.

Event sponsors include NewCo 2015, The Island Game, Tyreflex Star Motors/Mercedes-Benz, Zamar Productions and Fusion IMC.

In addition to the runway show, this event includes world-class entertainment, a three-course gourmet meal, and an expertly curated silent auction. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the silent auction will benefit The Bahamas AIDS Foundation’s work with adolescents infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Red Dress Soiree has raised more than $40,000 for the Bahamas AIDS Foundation over the last two events.

“All proceeds from the silent auction go towards the work that we do with adolescents infected and affected by HIV/AIDS,” said Lady Barnett, president of The Bahamas AIDS Foundation. “We’ve created a safe place for those young people in our society affected by this disease because there is still a stigma and discrimination among those dealing with HIV/AIDS.”

Five days a week, The Bahamas AIDS Foundation provides adolescents with educational tutoring, psychosocial intervention, peer support, job training and placement, a snack and a hot meal, referral services, and individual and group counseling, all of which are directed to enable the adolescents to lead long, productive, healthy lives. The Red Dress Soirée directly supports these efforts.

For more information visit reddressbahamas.com.