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Community Corner

Fashion and Fascinator Fanciers Raise Funds for Charity

On Thursday evening, dozens of fashion enthusiasts and admirers of fascinators (fancy headpieces) celebrated their shared interests during the Kentucky Derby Party and Spring Fashion Trends Event hosted at L.K. Bennett in the Somerset Collection – South in Troy.

Up-scale international retailer L.K. Bennett welcomed Rachelle Marie Willnus, designer of Derby Hats by Rachelle, and her line of designer headpieces — or fascinators, traditionally — to build excitement for next month’s Kentucky Derby horse race, which over the years has come to feature ladies wearing the latest fascinator designs.

Portions of the evening’s sales — 10 percent from L.K. Bennett sales and 5 percent of Derby Hats by Rachelle — are being donated to the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund at the University of Michigan Depression Center in Ann Arbor.

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The Somerset location — L.K. Bennett’s only location in Michigan — will continue donating back to the organization. Shoppers have until Thursday, April 24 to come in and mention the Prechter Fund or the Kentucky Derby to have 10 percent of their purchase donated to the Prechter Fund.

Dr. Melvin McInnis, Principal Investigator at the Prechter Bipolar Research program, was present with, along with wife, to enjoy the fashions and educate the shoppers on the progress underway at the Prechter Fund.

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L.K. Bennett has previously partnered with the Prechter Fund, hosting a shopping night for the nonprofit research organization in fall of 2013, raising significant funds.

Since entering the area in late 2012, L.K. Bennett has launched an initiative to give back to the community and area nonprofit organizations by hosting shopping nights — welcoming organizations into the store and donating a portion of sales.

If you work with a nonprofit organization or know of one that would like to set up a shopping night at L.K. Bennett, please inquire by sending an email to adrienne@shazaaam.com

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