Women in Pink Luncheon Photos
The Tamarac North Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Women in Pink Empowerment Luncheon raised $3,000 to benefit local causes.
Peter Mason, the chamber’s Executive Director, shared that the sold-out event had 190 attendees and featured 18 local businesses and the City of Tamarac as sponsors.
JP Taravella Pro Start Culinary students catered the event with a delicious meal.
Mason said the $300 donation to JP Taravella from the Chamber Foundation was matched by Lori Alhadeff, Mayor Michelle J Gomez, and Vice Mayor Wright, to a total of $1,200. The Chamber will determine the contribution to The Tamarac North Lauderdale Foundation supporting local schools in the coming weeks.
“Renaissance Charter School at University presented us with a $1,800 check last week from their breast cancer awareness walk,” Mason said. “The committee will discuss the most impactful way we can use this kind donation.”
Lori Parrish, an elected official for 32 years, a former Broward County school board member, county commissioner, and property appraiser currently running for Mayor of Southwest Ranches was a keynote speaker.
Parrish shared anecdotes from her childhood in Fort Lauderdale and stories of her first involvement in community work and politics, including urging the desegregation of school bathrooms and water fountains, equal pay for female bus drivers, and advocating for gender-neutral language in school board documents.
“I learned that if you want something, speak up and speak out. Because if you don’t do it, nobody’s going to do it for you,” Parrish said.
Reflecting on how far the women have come in local politics, Parrish noted that in her generation, women had limited access to the community’s social life, but they started getting involved when “someone they loved was getting hurt.”
“Women need to be each other’s best friends and best advocates,” she said. “Take care of each other, advocate for each other, and if you see something that’s wrong, make sure your voice is heard.”
Pamela Pacheco, a business and performance coach, also spoke at the lunch, sharing her personal and professional story. Hyvelle Ferguson Davis, the founder of Heart Sistas, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented women to take control of their health, spoke about the importance of preventative care and a healthy lifestyle.
This year, the event included a Pink Hat competition, with local entrepreneurs modeling extravagant headpieces in shades of blush and magenta. The audience could vote for their favorites, and the three ladies with the best hats received prizes and recognition.
Mason said the luncheon will return every year on the third Wednesday of October to mark the National Chamber of Commerce Day.
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