In 2008, my daughter Chaney and I discussed that we had so many great blessings in our life we wanted to give back to our community. We decided that many Derby festivities were going on in Louisville but none being hosted in the Southern Indiana area so there the dream began. We decided to sponsor a Networking Luncheon and Fashion Show in April and the proceeds went to a local charity.
2008 - We held our first Fillies Networking Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Calumet Club to kick things off with business women modeling Derby Fashions and Hats along with local businesses networking throughout the event. The proceeds from the event were donated to Cupcakes for Chloe to benefit families in the local community. We could not believe there were 112 guest at our first event we ever hosted. We were excited and ready to do this again the next year hoping we could at least get the same amount of guest or a few more to attend. Right after the event we had one of the local venues offer us their meeting space to hold the luncheon in 2009.
2009 - The second luncheon was held at Holiday Inn Lakeview, with Kelly K with WDJX as the Master of Ceremonies. The proceeds from this luncheon would go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We had an increase in attendance to 162 guests with a runway pretty much taking the room to capacity. Therefore looking for another venue with more space for 2010.
2010 - The third luncheon was held at the Grand in New Albany with proceeds going to Meghan's Mountain Charitable Foundation, to Camp Quality. We had the ladies from the Bravo series Southern Belles of Louisville grace us as our Celebrity Models. We increased our attendance to 227 attendees and this was when the Fillies Luncheon became known as one of the largest Networking Luncheon in Southern Indiana. Immediately after the event we had several companies request tables for the next year's Fillies Luncheon.
2011 - The Fourth Annual Fillies Networking Luncheon & Fashion Show was presented by Chaney's Event Rentals and held in the Bliss Ballroom at the Calumet Club, with 290 in attendance. The proceeds from the event went to Meghan's Mountain Charitable Foundation and Especially for Women Boutique. We hit the capacity there with a runway and models therefore we needed to look for a new home again.
2012-2015 We have held the Fillies Luncheon at Kye’s in Jeffersonville. We have a sellout luncheon with 400 attendees and 40 businesses sponsoring and networking their tables making this the largest Networking Event in Southern Indiana.
We have many people who have graced the event such as Stephanie Decker, Guilda’s Club, Jenny Hupp representing the Anita Rayle Memorial Scholarship, the late Meghan Steinberg from Meghan’s Mountain, Camp Quality, Cancer Care Center and Especially for Women Boutique. Olivia Henken from the Voice and Southern Indiana’s own Southern Sirens.
We could not hold this event without all of the table sponsors that purchase tables every year. They love the networking, Derby Fashions and the all-time favorite the Finale made up of Breast Cancer Survivors.
We have a lot of people volunteering to make this event a success such as, models, fashion show coordinators, decorating and table placement, IT and marketing and not to be down played our WIN, PLACE AND SHOW SPONSORS!
