Shady Ladies Lupus Lunch at PBIEC

THE STARS WILL SHINE AT THE SHADY LADIES™ LUPUS LUNCHEON PRESENTED BY IBM CORPORATION

Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 5--The Third Annual Shady Ladies™ Luncheon is once again reaching for the stars with presenting sponsor IBM Corporation and star-power Honorary Chairs Mark Badgley and James Mischka and Chair Jenny Oz Leroy.

Held for the benefit of The Lupus Research Institute (LRI), the luncheon will take place on Sunday, Feb. 10 at The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will begin at 11:30 am, with buffet dining at 1 pm. The Special Events Pavilion (a/k/a/The Shady Ladies Chalet), adjacent to the International Arena, will serve as the luncheon venue. This location will allow guests to have ringside seating to watch some of the best riders and their mounts compete for the top spot in the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix FEI-CSI 3*. The Grand Prix is part of the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising.

Catering the luncheon will be Jenny Oz LeRoy's Equestrian Club Tavern on the Green of Wellington. This Tavern is part of Tavern's prestigious New York City restaurant group.

Valet parking will be available at the front entrance to PBIEC, with personnel available to transport guests to the venue in golf carts.

Joining Mark, James and Jenny in their efforts on behalf of LRI are Vice-Chairs Toni and Jean Goutal, Angela and Chris Paradysz, and Teri and John Wood together with a star-studded committee and junior committee of noted equestrians.

Mark Badgley and James Mischka are the illustrious couturiers hailed by Vogue Magazine as one of the "Top 10 American Designers." They have dressed celebrities such as Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ashley Judd. The Badgley Mischka style hails back to the glamorous Hollywood of the '40s. Mark is well-known in equestrian circles, competing on the "A" hunter circuit.

Jenny Oz LeRoy, CEO of LeRoy Adventures, somehow finds time for her horses and competition schedule in between overseeing her Tavern on the Green restaurants, developing a line of Tavern on the Green products (such as marinades, dressings and steak sauces), and collaborating with her mother on an upcoming Tavern on the Green book for Artisan Press. Jenny grew up among the stars with her famous grandfather Mervyn LeRoy, producer of "The Wizard of Oz".

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can attack virtually any organ in the body. More than 1.5 million Americans suffer from the debilitating illness, 90 percent of whom are women between the ages of 15 and 44. The LRI leads the way to a cure for lupus by unleashing the scientific community's creativity, championing innovation and exploring uncharted territory in lupus research. Founded by families and shaped by scientists, the LRI has had remarkable success in breathing life.

The luncheon's theme resonates with a common symptom of lupus, namely, extreme sensitivity to the sun. Doctors advise lupus patients to stay in the shade, use sun block and wear clothing, hats and sunglasses to guard against exposure to ultraviolet light.

So, with shade being the operative concept, the luncheon will feature its ever-popular silent and live auction of celebrity sunglasses-tools for the person with lupus who wishes to protect him/herself against the potentially damaging and flare-inducing effects of sun exposure. In past years, winning bidders have gone home with the autographed sunglasses of celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Sharon Stone, Steven Spielberg, P. Diddy, Michael J. Fox, Paul Newman, Christina Aguilera, to name but a few. Eyes of Wellington, a favorite optician of the horsey set, will also be on hand with an offering of its designer shades, a portion of whose sales will be donated to LRI.

Well-known equestrian and jewelry designer extraordinaire Diane Johnston of Diane's Precious Jewels has specifically developed a selection of gemstone pieces for LRI, which she will showcase at the luncheon. One grouping will have healing properties for lupus patients, another incorporating the orange and plum colors of LRI's logo. A portion of Diane's sales will be donated to LRI.

In addition to Badgley Mischka, Eyes of Wellington and Diane's Precious Jewels, other corporate donors are Shady Day, Inc. and William Grant & Sons.

Tickets are $250/person with reserved tables of six available. For further information about tickets, tables and sponsorships, please contact Andrea O'Neill, LRI's Director of Development, at 212.685.4118, ext. 43, or email aoneill@lupusny.org.

For further information about LRI, please visit the website at www.lupusresearchinstitute.org.

PHOTOS:
Mark Badgley and James Mischka
Jenny Oz LeRoy and Rex

Contact: Beverly Lake Wilkes at 561.313.7356 or blw33480@msn.com

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