You couldn’t miss the grin. Not after Anita Blow looked out at the crowd gathered for the Michele Kiser Women’s Golf Clinic, Luncheon and Fashion Show presented by Advertising Plus.
This was Tuesday at Highland Springs Country Club. For an avid golfer such as Blow, the importance was clearly two-fold: The outreach toward women of the Ozarks as well as the children’s charities it will benefit.
After all, the event was part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, which is expected to surge past $12 million raised for children’s charities in this, its 26th year. A year ago, it hauled in a record $1 million-plus for charities.
“It’s just great fellowship and good for tweaking your golf game, but it’s also camaraderie,” Blow said. “Every club around has people here.”
The annual event marked its 13th year and was named in honor of Michele Kiser, the longtime owner of Advertising Plus who passed away on Jan. 1.
Overall, the event offered a sneak peek into the success of the tournament, as Advertising Plus is among 400 sponsors. Additionally, Tuesday marked the beginning, in earnest, of tournament-related events leading up to the PCCC, set for Aug. 13-16 at Highland Springs.
More than 80 attended an event in which models wore fashions from Torn Boutique and Bag Lady Boutique, as well the Highland Springs golf shop.
“I always look forward to this event each year,” said Kari Crawford, Marketing and Branding Director of the PCCC. “It’s great seeing so many of the same ladies who participate continuously. The fashion show is always so much fun. I love how enthusiastic the ladies are about all of the clothing and the raffle items. Getting to be a part of this event, along with the many other different events that collectively help raise money for children, is what makes my job so enjoyable.”
Those volunteering their time to model were Stephanie Appleby, Kelsey Schrimpf, Diane Nachtigal, Michal Moss Early, Donna Gravitt, Kelly Smith, Janet Rose and Twila Walker.
“I liked it because it combined two things I’m passionate about – fashion and charity,” said Appleby, the Events and Marketing Director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness Southwest Missouri. “And it was a good opportunity to meet people. I made a ton of new friends. It was a fun time – fun girl’s time.”