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– On Wednesday, August 12, 2009, more than 100 of Bay Area’s most generous citizens gathered in the Spanish Suite at Clift to preview celebrity and designer handbags, that will be auctioned off to help Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) clients during the 5th annual This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse. Guests sampled appetizers provided by Clift while sipping beverages donated by The Redwood Room and Pearl Vodka. Guests were able to preview more than 40 bags up close and personal, including bags autographed by actress Sharon Stone and designers Tori Burch and Eric Javits. Other bags on display included a vintage Hermes Birkin bag donated by Ann Getty, 2 Judith Leiber evening boxes donated by Jo Schuman, and designer bags from Bloomingdale’s, Furla and Tiffany & Co.

The preview event featured a small silent auction, which raised more than $1000 for BCEF clients. Three lucky women walked away with handbags from the silent auction including: Dianne Easterwood, who won a Mandarina Duck Black Leather Portfolio Shoulder Bag; Judith Branch, who won a Brown Python Hobo with Braid Handle, autographed by designer Eric Javits; and Beth Townsend, who won a Tous Limited Edition Leather Bag with Brass and Zamac Fittings, handmade in Barcelona. Lois G Richtand, an employee at Kaiser Permanente won the evening’s reaffle prize, a caseras drawstring bag donated by Bloomingdales.

Kaiser Permanente returns as presenting sponsor of This Old Bag, which takes place on Friday, October 16, 2009 at W San Francisco and benefits Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. Guests will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment while shopping without guilt for more than 150 handbags, purses and other bags in a silent and live auction. The event features bags donated by famous designers, new and vintage bags donated by local philanthropists, as well as autographed bags from some of Hollywood’s favorite women. This year’s event introduces “Bags With A Story,” which features bags that have been donated by Bay Area women and will include a narration about their personal struggles with breast cancer.

BCEF has assembled an impressive roster of prominent San Franciscans to lend a hand (bag) for the cause. Hilary Newsom Callan and Dame Bella Farrow, DSJ co-chair the event, along with a very enthusiastic host committee including Beatrice Amblard, Wilkes Bashford, Michelle Curtis, Harry Denton, Diane Easterwood, Joel Goodrich, Hon. Kamala Harris, Elaine LaMastra, Maryanne Sangiacomo, Iacomini, Carolyn Lee, Hon. Fiona Ma, Bahya Oumlil-Murad, Dr Sheila Shahabi, Lori Puccinelli Stern and Beth Townsend.

Last year’s This Old Bag, underwritten by presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente, netted $100,000 to fund BCEF’s program of providing emergency financial assistance to women with breast cancer who are too sick to work. This year’s event committee hopes to exceed that figure. “Of all the fundraisers I have been involved with, this is the most timely and most important. BCEF helps women in crisis,” said fundraising diva, Bella Farrow. “Who doesn’t need one more handbag, especially if it helps women in need? We need your help!!”

Because of the generosity of Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, and other local sponsors and patrons, 100% of ticket sales will directly benefit BCEF clients. Tickets to the event are $125, and are available at www.thisoldgag.org or by calling Christian Dumais at 415-558-6999 ext 3.

This Old Bag was created in 2005, with financial support from presenting sponsor Kaiser Permanente and the vision of BCEF Board Member Neil Figurelli. Since then, This Old Bag has raised nearly $500,000 for BCEF by providing “shop without guilt” opportunities for San Francisco philanthropists as 100% of ticket and bag sales go directly to support clients who are too sick to work. Last year’s This Old Bag raised $100,000, which provided grants for nearly 150 women facing financial hardship in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.

Since April 2001, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) has been providing emergency financial assistance to San Francisco’s low-income women battling breast cancer. BCEF has helped over 1200 women pay their rent, utilities and medical bills when they were too sick to work. By operating with very low overhead (and sharing administrative costs with AIDS Emergency Fund) BCEF has been able to grant over 90 cents of every dollar raised to clients facing financial hardship while battling breast cancer.