Rob Parker took a selfie of himself and a roomful of bidders holding up their paddles. InkFreeNews photos by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — Various shades of pink adorned the dining room at the Tippecanoe Country Club Sunday afternoon, Oct. 10, for The Power of Pink Champagne Brunch. The event was to support the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.

The room was filled with close to 100 women, and a few men, to enjoy an afternoon of food, champagne and wine and an opportunity to purchase 17 designer purses. Even the floral table decorations were auctioned off.

This chart shows how funds have been distributed in 2021.

Rob Parker, executive director of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, was the auctioneer.

The auction brought in close to $10,000 as purses were purchased, ranging from $130 up to $2,000. The floral centerpieces were sold for $50 each, with many in attendance giving a $50 donation to the Cancer Care fund.

A majority of the purses included surprises of various products inside, including gift cards.

Designer purses from Coach, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Haute Shore, Tory Burch, Aimee Kestenberg and Coach Wristlet were the hot items up for bid. Members of the Warsaw and Wawasee Football teams modeled the purses and sometimes scarves. Participating were Bryce Duncan, Cole Koontz and Ian Nichols from Warsaw and Jeb Richey, Devon Kuhn and Zeke Keim from Wawasee.

The ladies were served a spinach salad with fresh strawberries, bleu cheese, red onion, cherry tomato, toasted pistachio with poppy seed dressing. The entree for the afternoon was spinach quiche, cucumber dill sandwich and grilled shrimp with mango salsa. During the auction, pink sorbet was served and a special Power of Pink blend coffee from Brew City Roasting Co., Syracuse, was served.

All proceeds from the event went directly to the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, which was started in 1999 with a mission to reduce the challenges facing county cancer patients and their families by financially assisting them during their fight. Since the first of the year, the fund has provided $54,267.79 to help 53 clients with utilities, car payment/rental, food, gas, lodging, home insurance/repairs, car insurance/repairs and rent/mortgage.

The KCCF Committee who organizes various events are overseen by volunteers.