4th Annual Shady Ladies® Luncheon and Celebrity Sunglasses Auction Raises $75,000

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

More than 100 shady ladies joined the Lupus Research Institute for its 4^th annual Shady Ladies® Luncheon and Celebrity Sunglass Auction held on Sunday, March 15, 2009, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.  The event raised approximately $75,000 for LRI.

"We at the LRI are grateful to the Palm Beach community for rallying in support of Lupus research.  It has been more than 50 years since the discovery of a major new treatment for lupus, and the money raised by this event brings us nearer to our ultimate goal of a medical breakthrough to help those suffering with lupus," said Margaret G. Dowd, Executive Director of the Lupus Research Institute.

The luncheon, Co-Chaired by Hillary Dobbs and Brianne Goutal and Honorary Chairs Jenny Oz LeRoy, Mark Badgley and James Mischka, focuses on the importance of people with lupus to shade themselves from the sun, which can trigger and exacerbate the illness.  All people with lupus are advised to stay out of direct sunlight and wear sunblock, hats and sunglasses.

Celebrities who donated sunglasses for the event include Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba, Kevin Connolly, Brian Vickers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nicollette Sheridan, Badgley Mischka, Lou Dobbs, Snoop Dogg, Regis and Joy Philbin, Susan Lucci, and Kathy Griffin.

View photos from the event