The Gainesville Woman’s Club hosts ‘A Night of Fashion’ on April 3, benefiting the Child Advocacy Center
Press release from the Child Advocacy Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Helping kids never goes out of style! On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Gainesville Woman’s Club will be hosting “A Night of Fashion,” featuring fashions by Dillard’s!
This year the club has chosen the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) as the event beneficiary. The CAC is celebrating 20 years of President and CEO Sherry Kitchens leading the efforts of helping children in Alachua County heal from their trauma caused by abuse, neglect, and human trafficking. For over 25 years, the CAC has been collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement officers, medical professionals, child protection team, and more and providing advocacy, forensic interviewing, therapy, and emergency response services in a child-friendly space. This amazing work is not possible without support from our wonderful community.
The fashion show will take place at the Gainesville Woman’s Club location at 2809 W University Avenue, doors opening at 5:30 p.m., program beginning at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature a sit-down dinner catered by Pomodoro Café, dessert sponsored by Sweetwater Branch Inn, assorted wine, raffle baskets, a gift card shoe, a pop-up store by Dillard’s with beauty services station, and more!
Eight models will showcase two different outfits – daytime casual and nighttime cocktail attire. Included in the lineup are Gainesville Woman’s Club members, some of the CAC’s staff, board members, and TV20’s very own Kristin Chase! Tickets are on sale for $50 by calling the Gainesville Woman’s Club. The event will max out at 150 seats. Sponsorships are also available to support the club and the amazing work of the CAC!
Click here for more information about the event.
Proceeds from the Gainesville Woman’s Club Fashion Show will directly support the CAC and its mission to break the cycle of child abuse in Alachua County. Since its inception in 1999, the CAC has made tremendous strides in creating a compassionate community where children and families are supported as they heal from trauma and violence. We strongly believe that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. As members of our community, we recognize the importance for all of us to work together to break the cycle of child abuse and improve outcomes for child victims and their families. We know the impact the CAC and its partner agencies have on our community and their ability to provide a child-friendly, trauma-responsive space where children can transition from victims and survivors to thrivers! To date, thousands of children have received services and are thriving today.
In 2024, the CAC served 3,964 children and caregivers. Of those, 63 were child sex trafficking cases, 754 were physical abuse cases, 908 were sexual abuse cases, and 239 required a specialized forensic interview — all right here in Alachua County. Unfortunately, the CAC has seen an increase in children needing protection due to the severity of the abuse they have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. This means the need for the CAC is even more critical than ever before. Proceeds will fund the annual operational expenses of the CAC and allow thousands of children in Alachua County to receive necessary services in order to heal. The CAC couldn’t do what they do without the generous support of this community and are incredibly grateful to have so many stand next to them in their efforts to break the cycle of abuse in our community!