‘What a Pair’ Returns This Friday
Since its inception in 2009, What a Pair has raised $119,000 providing 534 free mammograms to uninsured women in the harbor area. (Photo: What a Pair Facebook)
It isn’t too late to get tickets to What a Pair, the Soroptimist International of L.A. Harbor’s annual auction that raises funds for free mammograms for uninsured area women.
The sixth annual event takes place this Friday at the Croatian Cultural Center of Greater Los Angeles from 6 to 9 p.m.
The night will feature auctions of 10 creatively decorated bras, photography, sketches and paintings of a live semi-nude model created on the spot by local artists, and the “Cog Bra” — a metal sculpture composed of transmission gears created especially for the evening by noted sculptor Donald Gialanella.
“We’ve never been offered a piece of that magnitude,” says Marta Valladolid, president of the L.A. Harbor chapter of Soroptimist International, a professional women’s organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls locally and around the world. “It’s the first time we’ve had such an expensive piece.”
There will all also be live jazz music and dinner by Chef Shafer of the Depot Restaurant in Torrance.
“The food is excellent and Chef Shafer is a comedy act,” Valladolid says. “Expect the best.”
Since not everyone can afford the $65 tickets, a sneak peek of this year’s pieces was held last month at fINdings Art Center. One titled “Busting Out” features a bra coming through jail cell bars. Last year, someone transformed a bra into a replica of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
The semi-nude live model will be sketched and painted by Alan Papaleo, Pat Wooley, Mike Rivero, Eugene Daub and Fabian Debora.
Since its inception in 2009, What a Pair has raised $119,00 providing 534 mammograms at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in San Pedro to harbor area women who are uninsured, under-insured or don’t qualify for Medi-Cal.
“Basically if you feel there’s something that’s not right and you can’t be seen under your current provisions, we’re your middle man,” Valladolid says.
She decided to start the event seven years ago when she learned a startling statistic: that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life, according to the American Cancer Society. Those chances increase significantly if breast cancer runs in the family.
“I always say close your eyes and think of eight women you can’t live without. If you help us now, when it’s your turn we’ll be there for you,” Valladolid says, adding that tickets are still available online or at the door.
“I can guarantee it will be a priceless event. So much happens in three hours that by the time it’s over, people are leaving looking forward to next year.”
The sixth annual What a Pair takes place this Friday, March 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Croatian Cultural Center of Greater Los Angeles at 510 West 7th Street. For tickets and more information, visit whatapairsanpedro.org.
