The Amy’s Purpose Fashion Show and Luncheon held Oct. 12 at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage thoroughly delighted 150 humans and one canine.
Ali, the sweet-tempered, well-mannered (and very large) bulldog pup loved all the attention she received from those in the room. But she certainly didn’t let it go to her head — even when her owner, restaurateur Willie Rhine, led her onstage so they could be introduced as the event’s special honorees. Ali circled three times and then lay down next to Rhine with her backside squarely to the wildly applauding audience.
Another lovable canine was also in attendance, albeit in spirit only: Amy, a terrier with one light blue eye and one dark brown eye whose tragic death in 2019 at the hands of three coyotes inspired her owner, DeAnn Lubell, to create a nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of pets in her honor.
Lubell, together with her husband, Jeffrey Clarke, and daughter, Tanya Martin-Yee, were determined to save as many pets as possible from being destroyed by predators like coyotes, bobcats, owls and hawks — or snatched by human predators. To that end, Amy’s Purpose raises predator awareness, promotes pet safety and provides grief counseling.
When the couple’s other dog, Sugar, needed veterinary care and they had a hard time finding it, they became aware of the acute shortage of animal health care workers in desert communities, forcing pet owners to travel as far away as Loma Linda or Los Angeles for emergency or specialty care. Amy’s Purpose decided to partner with College of the Desert’s workforce training program by funding scholarships for students studying to be veterinary assistants. Their first major event, a benefit concert held at the Palm Springs Art Museum last year, funded 18 scholarships. Program instructor Starra Weinberg, RVT and three of the scholarship recipients represented the program at this year’s event.
Lubell, a well-connected writer, publicist and teacher of the arts, has continued to grow the circle of Amy’s Purpose supporters. The result is an Advisory Council 25 members strong, and a 10-member board of directors, made up of Tere Britton, Elaine Church, Susan Francis, Patti Gribow, Lisa Karr, Dan McGrath, Terry Lakey McMichael, Kathy Strong, David B. Sullivan and Judy Vossler. Nearly all attended, and some had significant roles. Church served as the event chair, together with co-chairs Jo Ann Horwitz and Linda Williamson. With Patrick Evans, she was also one of the two fashion show commentators. McGrath honored the late Leanna Bonamici, creator of the organization’s lively video, and Gribow served as mistress of ceremonies.
The day concluded with the eagerly awaited fashion show, generously provided by Debra Carrington, owner of Summer Colony Living on El Paseo, who designed several of the ladies’ fashions. She was accompanied by menswear designer Perry Jones.
Celebrity models included Teri Anderson, Lindi Biggi, Judie Brown, Karen Devine, Melissa Neiderman, Terri Neuman, Frank DiSalvo, Prince Fleet Easton, Zach Harner, Craig Prater and Fred Williamson.
“We told them just to have fun,” said event chair Church. “And they did!”
So did the audience. They were charmed by the models’ high-energy, personable, totally individualistic styles, so unlike most aloof and carefully choreographed runway presentations. Perhaps most striking of all was Easton, who literally danced down the runway with an abundance of quick spins and dramatic swoops. Models high-fived each other as they met halfway down the runway, and the warmth and good spirit were palpable.
The final foray was in elegant eveningwear with everyone in pairs, dancing their way up and down the runway to the joyful tune of “We Are Family.” And in that happy moment, they truly were — 150 humans and one canine alike.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that this little dog, the late Amy, could generate such enormous support from our desert communities,” Lubell said afterwards. “Not only have we been saving the lives of pets, we have been enriching the lives of those interested in animal sciences. Our scholarships to the College of the Desert PaCE Veterinary Assistant Program have made a huge impact to helping out our local veterinary healthcare system. It is working!”
To learn more about Amy’s Purpose, call (760) 831-3090, email [email protected] or visit amyspurpose.net.
Anita Roark is a writer/editor and public relations professional who came to the Coachella Valley in 2005. She’s been writing for Desert Scene since 2014. Here in the valley, she has coordinated PR at American Cancer Society and Gilda’s Club and been a docent at the Palm Springs Art Museum. While in Los Angeles, she was with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA and the March of Dimes, and in San Diego, PR director at the Salk Institute.