Inside Anne’s Closet Raises More Than $275,000

Inside Anne’s Closet, a unique luncheon combining fashion and athletics, raised more than $275,000 on Monday, May 13, for national nonprofit Colorectal Cancer Alliance, which seeks to end colorectal cancer while providing life-saving programs, and the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, which will support screening efforts at local health centers. High-resolution photographs from the event are below.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank every guest and supporter of Inside Anne’s Closet, which brings to life our mother’s memory and raises funds for a critical cause,” said Amy Paye Venuto, steering committee chair. “The journey of colorectal cancer unites us, and our passion to end the disease drives us. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to make an impact and help end this disease within our lifetime.”  

Inside Anne’s Closet is in honor of founding chair John Paye and Amy Paye Venuto’s mother Anne, a lover of fashion, who died in June 2013 at age 67 from the disease. Inside Anne’s Closet was sponsored by Orrick and Madden Charities, among others.

Key points:

• Inside Anne’s Closet raised more than $275,000 on Monday, May 13, at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, California.
• The event, now in its fifth year, has raised more than $1 million total for national nonprofit Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
• Colorectal cancer is the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with more than 15,000 new cases expected in California this year.
• The fashion show program included models from Stanford University athletics wearing fashions from local retailers and designers, including those from Bloomingdale’s Stanford, Harwood, Luisa Spagnoli, Patrick James and Stella & Dot, as well as designs from Carmen Marc Valvo.

Photos:

In the back, from left to right: Sara Franti, wife of Michael Franti; Joan and Allen Rush, whose daughter Jacqueline died in 2014 at 23 years old from colorectal cancer; Philip Ebarb, uncle of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, whose mother died in 2013 at the age of 52 from colorectal cancer; Tim McKyer, whose mother died from colorectal cancer; John Rheault, colorectal cancer survivor; John Backus, colorectal cancer survivor, Inside Anne's Closet advisor, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. In the front, from left to right: Laura Garcia, NBC Bay Area anchor whose mother died from colorectal cancer; Michele Ono, Inside Anne's Closet Steering Committee Member and colorectal cancer survivor; John Paye, Inside Anne's Closet Founding Chair whose mother died in 2013 at the age of 67 from colorectal cancer; Jessica Buscho, colorectal cancer survivor; Nicole Lorenz, colorectal cancer survivor; Anngi Sieger Strick, Inside Anne's Closet Steering Committee Member and colorectal cancer survivor

From left to right: Sharon Seto, member of the Board of Directors of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance; Michael Sapienza, CEO of Colorectal Cancer Alliance; and Eve Bukowski, colorectal cancer survivor

From left to right: Paula Kaval, co-recipient of Inside Anne's Closet Hero of Hope Award and mother of Inside Anne's Closet Honorary Chair Dave Kaval, who is President of the Oakland Athletics; Doris Anderson, Inside Anne's Closet Steering Committee; and Amy Paye Venuto, Inside Anne's Closet Steering Committee Chair

From left to right, the children of Anne Paye: Daughter Kate Paye, Associate Head Coach Stanford Women's Basketball; son John Paye, Inside Anne's Closet Founding Chair and Head Coach of Menlo School varsity girls' basketball; and daughter Amy Paye Venuto, Inside Anne's Closet Steering Committee Chair

Stanford University’s women’s volleyball student-athlete Tami Alade graces the runway in a Carmen Marc Valvo design, serenaded by Eddie M, saxophonist for Sheila E and Prince, playing “A Live Bizarre.”

Stanford University football student-athletes Malik Antoine and Cameron Scarlett, right, certainly know how to make an entrance!