April 15, 2021

Brophy Fashion Show

(left) Senior Drew Savage accessorizes with Brophy soccer’s state championship trophy won in March; (right) Fashion Show chairs Tess Burleson and Nancy Holben Bates

Despite a smaller crowd to allow for social distancing, Brophy College Preparatory held its annual Brophy Fashion Show on March 25. Usually planned as a fall luncheon, this year it was reimagined as a streamlined spring evening event at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.

Due to its timing, for the first time ever, this iconic event joined forces with the spring Brophy Auction to raise money for the school’s Financial Aid Fund. Since its inception 37 years ago, the Fashion Show has raised more than $10 million to support Brophy’s Jesuit mission of providing need-verified assistance to every qualified student whose family applies for financial aid.

With the theme “Excellence in All Pursuits,” and once again partnering with Neiman Marcus, the event not only featured professional models walking the runway in designer fashions, but also starred members of Brophy’s Class of 2021 dressed in men’s clothing from local retailers, as well as Brophy spirit wear and sports uniforms. A much-beloved feature in the event program, “Senior Sentiments,” included reflections from these young men on their own pursuit of excellence, the impact of their Jesuit education and how it has led them to become Men for Others.

Besides the event itself, the Fashion Show and Auction included the sale of limited-edition gifts and both a general raffle and car raffle. Raffle donors included Chapman BMW Chandler who donated a 2021 BMW valued at more than $47,000. The winner was senior parent Colleen Lomax.

The Brophy Auction was online only and featured a variety of gifts and travel packages, as well as a classic car and raised approximately $160,000. With sponsorships, gift sales and raffle sales, the Fashion Show raised approximately $610,000 for financial aid.

“Always a miracle of meticulous preparation and exquisite detail, the production of this year’s Fashion Show was especially challenging due to the pandemic. A huge thank you and congratulations to Fashion Show chairs Nancy Holben Bates and Tess Burleson, as well as every one of their hard-working committee members. And the seamless partnership with the Brophy Auction was a direct result of our intrepid and nimble Auction chairs, Donna Cleinman and Abby Kerkhove along with their committee,” says Adria Renke, president.

Brophy recently announced that next year’s Auction will return to the school’s campus as an in-person event on Oct. 23, 2021, and the Fashion Show will be presented in spring 2022.

PHOTOS COURTESY BROPHY COLLEGE PREPARATORY