Fashionable Fundraising: Highland Park Fashion Show Benefits Breast Cancer Foundation

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A trio of sisters is hosting a night of fashionable fundraising in Downtown Highland Park to raise money for breast cancer research in October.

Sisters and co-owners of Upside Events Melinda Kaplan, Lena Blitstein and Samantha Shapiro are offering a night of fall fashion where 100 percent of ticket sales and 15 percent of every purchase will benefit the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation. The show will take pace at 440 Central Avenue on Oct. 9 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The professionally curated runway fashion show will include looks by ENAZ, which the sisters also own, and makeup by Josie Volpentesta at Salon Vole.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to support charities near and dear to our hearts and have always been huge supporters of Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation,” said Samantha Shapiro, co-owner of both ENAZ and Upside Events. “It was in October of 2023, when breast cancer hit really close to home when our sister Melinda Kaplan, was diagnosed. We’ve always donated to the cause and have flown the Lynn Sage flags loud and proud in front of our stores, and we’re happy to continue to raise awareness for this cause.”

Tickets for the fashion show are $39 for general admission and $50 for front-row VIP seats. With each ticket, guests will get complimentary gift bags as well as light bites and wine. Te experimental event will also offer pre-show complimentary services to attendees including:

• makeup and nail art provided by Nail Art Nikki at Nail Art Studio
• ear piercing by Alison Tensar aka Piercing Princess at Morton Grove Jewelry.

Guests will be able to shop the looks after the show as well.

“I can’t stress how important it is to get mammograms and ultrasounds for early detection that can be life-saving,” says Melinda Kaplan, who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2023. “This event is not only to raise awareness and funding for Lynn Sage, because breast cancer affects one in eight women. We all know someone touched by breast cancer."

ENAZ and Upside Events together have raised over $40,000 and have donated unsold new clothing, shoes and accessories to charities like the Alzheimer's Association, Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, SCOPE, PDA North America, Collaborative Community Housing Initiative, A Safe Place, Give N’ Kind, and The Chicago Lighthouse.