The Woman's Thursday Club Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show planning committee included (left to right, front row): Judy Faught, Trude Vasquez, Patricia Speere, Sheba Jackson, Marty Holmes. Back row: Lynn Steen, Valerie Lubinsky, Phyllis Willams, Ann Snyder, Rosemary Lamb, Terrie O'Donnell.

 

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) – The Woman’s Thursday Club of Fair Oaks recently held its Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show on April 16 at Northridge Country Club. The event raises funds to help local high school seniors attend college and has been a community tradition for more than 50 years. 

This year, the fundraiser’s scholarship committee, led by Carol Buck, selected 12 students from 30 applicants to receive a $1,200 scholarship for the 2026-27 school year. The recipients attend Bella Vista, Casa Robles, Mesa Verde and San Juan High Schools. 

“Many of our club members are retired teachers or have professional backgrounds,” said Woman’s Thursday Club President Terrie O’Donnell. “The fundraiser gives our members the opportunity to support and promote higher education for local students.”

The five models are members of the Woman's Thursday Club, including (from left): Liz Thayer, Laurie Parker, Judy Jennings, Rosemary Lamb (fashion house co-chair), Susan Goss, Marty Holmes (fashion house chair), Dana Kleinsasser, and Bud Beebe (escort).

Proceeds from the event’s ticket and raffle-drawing sales, along with a live auction, help fund the scholarships. A special luncheon for the finalists and their families will be held on May 14 at The Old Spaghetti Factory.

More than 250 ticket holders, including Woman’s Thursday Club members, their guests and family members came out to support the fundraiser, socialize and have a good time. 

Each year, committee chairs select a new event theme to mark the occasion. This year’s theme was “Mariposa Magic.”  

“Mariposa is the Spanish word for butterfly,” explained event chair Trude Vasquez. “When you think of butterflies, you think of spring.” 

Terrie O'Donnell (second from the left) won a beautiful, handcrafted quilt at the live auction. Terrie is pictured here with the quiltmakers (left to right): Janet Benson, Phyllis Williams, and Pat Hertema. 

Many attendees came dressed for the occasion, wearing butterfly-patterned clothing and floral prints or simple yet elegant butterfly pins and accessories.

The Firehouse Boutique, located on historic Sutter Street in Folsom, provided the models’ outfits. Established in 1987 by Renate Cunningham, the boutique is now run by Renate’s daughter, Diana Appel, who served as the emcee and introduced the models during the fashion show portion of the program.

“The Firehouse Boutique was recommended by several club members who shop there,” said the event’s Fashion House Chair, Marty Holmes. “It’s a delightful store with beautiful, chic clothing in sizes from XS to XXL, which is important to our members. It was a true joy to work with Renate and Diana and to give their small business some visibility, too.”

Model Dana Kleinsasser gets ready to walk the runway with escort Bud Beebe.

All the models were members of the Woman’s Thursday Club, including Susan Goss, Judy Jennings, Dana Kleinsasser, Laurie Parker and Liz Thayer. Bud Beebe and Don Neufeld served as the models’ escorts.

More than 100 raffle prizes were awarded at the event. Thanks to Trude Vasquez of Ships and Trips Travel, one lucky winner took home a $500 Southwest Airlines gift certificate.

A highlight of the day was a live auction, during which a beautiful handmade quilt was sold to the highest bidder in the room for $1,100. Special thanks to quiltmakers Janet Benson, Pat Hertema and Phyllis Williams, who spent more than 300 hours creating the quilt from a Pearl Perreira design.

The Firehouse Boutique in Folsom clothed the models. Owners Renate Cunningham and daughter, Diana Appel, pose together.

“This is one of the largest volunteer-organized events in the community,” Vasquez said. “It’s always a pleasure to chair alongside my co-chair, Judy Faught, especially when you have the best volunteers in town! It takes more than 50 volunteers in a variety of roles to make this event happen, and we couldn’t do it without our club members’ support.”

The Woman’s Thursday Club of Fair Oaks has been active since 1902, supporting charities and events that benefit the community and beyond. The club’s Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show is its largest fundraiser of the year. For more information about the organization, please visit the website at www.fairoakshistory.org/wtcfo.

Marty Holmes was a hopeful raffle prize winner.