Bra creations a supportive venture

“Bras for a Cause Celebrate the Arts” — that was the 2011 theme for the go-to annual fundraiser of the spring. Presented by Soroptimist International of Glendale for the eighth year, artistically decorated bras spilled over every nook and cranny at the Oakmont Country Club on April 9. All were on full display on auction tables in the dining room and two extra rooms so that supporters could bid on them.

The Soroptimist mandate was that bras could be decorated in any way, as long as they were innovative and imaginative. You could start with a bra and design a masterpiece or create a bra by using unexpected materials.

How about sparkly, feathered masquerade masks? Those were attached to the “Most Unique”-winning “Sing and Dance for a Cause” bra, created by Phyllis Nieman. She painted a guitar a bright pink for the base of the bra. Nieman purchased the guitar at Charles Music. Owner Ruth Charles was determined to win it. In fact, she had the highest bid of $110. Charles will lend the bra to a friend before displaying it at Charles Music.

Creator of “Bras for a Cause” Kathy Lefkovits never misses a chance to create and sponsor a bra. This year, her “Some Like it Sparkly” was covered in Swarovski crystals. It was accompanied by a 16-inch Swarovski necklace and an earring set valued at $125. The bra — priceless. Appropriately, it won “Most Beautiful.”

The “Phantom of the OpBRA” won awards for “Most Unusual Use of a Bra” and “Bra Submitted by a Non-Profit.” The OpBra was sponsored by Glendale Adventist Cancer Services and decorated in honor of all those who have survived breast cancer and those lost to breast cancer. Cancer survivors painted the colorful flowers on the black torso supporting the bra.

The winning bid went to Karine and Dr. Boris Bagdasarian for $90. Dr. Bagdasarian is chairman of Cancer Services at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. The Bagdasarians had already won a five-night stay at Cancun. In a very generous mood, the couple also spent $350 on the live-auction prize, “Go Dodger Blue!” The package consisted of four VIP tickets to the Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers game in May and a coveted preferred-parking pass.