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Whimsical Idea Turns Into An Unforgettable Fundraiser

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

BRANDON - Sandi de Laski and Ella Chadwell were looking for a project, maybe hosting a craft show or Christmas boutique.

Then they heard about the Women's Resource Center of Tampa and the services it offers women - mostly single mothers - whose lives have been turned upside down by addiction or abuse.

"We decided to make it an 'Ah ha, God' thing," de Laski said. They decided to go all out and plan a major fundraiser for the center.
Chadwell conceived the idea to produce a play based on the theme of the movie "Casablanca." The plot follows a man who returns a missing package to a woman in New York, only to discover it holds a diamond worth a fortune.

Maggie Radd and Stephen Stough, producers at BayLife Church, joined the team to make the evening come together. Chadwell and her husband, David, opened their home for practices and fed the cast in preparation for the performance.

The play sold out just by word of mouth.

Written by Patricia Bateman, who produces programs for the Women's Ministry at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, the play was performed April 26 and was the center's first major fundraiser. The evening at the Don Vicente De Ybor Historic Inn in Ybor City included dinner and a drawing.

Resource center board member Ken McKenna said the group expects proceeds from the gala to reach $20,000.

"Whatever we do, God is in it," de Laski said. "I was able to bring in my event expertise and put it together. And Ella is very creative, with a big imagination.

"We're already planning another event for next year," she said.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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