Five years ago, following her daughter Amanda’s passing from childhood cancer; Lorraine Tallman started Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, to bring dignity and comfort to those suffering from childhood cancer, and other life-threatening diseases.

In the years since, AHRA has helped more than 6,000 children, with programs including Major Distractions (events - like spa-days, crafts-days, family luncheons, and more – brought into local children’s hospitals to bring a bit of joy and hope into their lives), Comfort and Care (physiological and behavioral counseling for patients and their families), and most notably, Comfycozys for Chemo – the distribution of a simply-designed shirt, envisioned by Amanda, that allows nurses to access a child’s port, while allowing the child to remain dressed (and thus retain a semblance of control, and dignity, while undergoing treatment).

While volunteering in the pediatric oncology ward at Summerlin Hospital, local entrepreneur Kelley Fertitta (CFO, WilsonGabrielle) saw the effect AHRA and their Comfycozys had on the children; and knew, then and there, that she wanted to facilitate the opening of a fulltime branch of Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, here, in Las Vegas.

“I wanted to start Amanda Hope, in Las Vegas, to give children with cancer a bright light in their darkest days,” explains Fertitta.  “I want them to feel a sense of dignity and respect, every time they are seen in the clinic; while giving them a new, exciting reason to fight, every single day.

So, on September 30th, Fertitta hosted the first annual Fashion for Hope event, benefitting the Las Vegas branch of Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels.  Held at the Sandbar Pool of Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, the Fashion for Hope event featured brunch, a Moët & Chandon mimosa bar, gobsmackingly delicious doughnuts, a cotton-candy machine, and a runway presentation of the Anne Fontaine FW17 collection.

The monies raised at Fashion for Hope will go to implement a full-time meal program into the facility at the Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada (the clinic where AHRA services those children in our community stricken with cancer); and also to begin offering psychiatric care to both the patients and their families.

As Vicki Fertitta so eloquently put it, to me, that afternoon, while showing me one of the Comfycozys, “Giving these children some dignity, Michael…  It makes all the difference.”  Indeed, it does.

Fashion for Hope
Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels
Click HERE for info

Get into it!
#Dignity