Haute Tea Party To Cure Diabetes Raises $70,000

A Haute Tea Party called for hats for the Young Society of Love and Hope, along with 250 of Miami’s most powerful players, celebrities, and socialites. The sold-out 3^rd annual Haute Tea luncheon was sponsored by Warren Henry and Haute Living. The “tea”, held at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, was a big success and raised $70,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. The British-themed event, which was held in honor of Love and Hope International Chairman Linda Gibb,

Event Co-chairs Jillian Posner and Dr. Stacy Chimento kicked off the afternoon of high fashion and philanthropy with a cocktail reception – where guests were greeted by Royal Palace guards and champagne. They were then led into the ballroom to enjoy a formal tea service and a three-course lunch at their tables, which were adorned with fine silverware provided by Christophle and luxe floral arrangements provided by Kalla.

“It’s amazing to see this amount of beautiful women, all joined together by our determination to raise awareness for type 1 diabetes,” said Posner as she addressed the crowd with fellow chair Dr. Chimento, who added, “We really appreciate it, as do the millions of children and adults who are living with diabetes.”

Auction and raffle items were lady-centric and quite the hit, including Gabriella |WIMMER Haute Couture jewelry and handbags, weekend stays at the Gale South Beach and St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, a South African safari trip, spa gift certificates and more during a silent and live auction – which was auctioneered by Miami HEAT TV Host and Courtside Reporter Jason Jackson. All while special guest judges WSVN’s Deco Drive Reporter and Fashion Blogger Shireen Sandoval, Miami-based The Fashion Poet Founder Annie Vazquez and 2013 Kentucky Derby Fashion Contest winner and Founder/Owner of Shapoh, Suzy Buckley Woodward browsed the room to find the best hats for the Haute Hat Contest.

A tip of the hat went to Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour, who left guests feeling as if they had been taken to London Fashion Week with a runway show complete with a chic Union Jack catwalk, where the models rocked the latest trends. After the show, the special guest judges announced the following winners of the hat contest: Carly Patterson for Best Hat to Heels, Sara Kaplan for Best fascinator and Diane Ares for Best Hat.