French fashion designer Anne Fontaine, right, is pictured with Rett Syndrome Foundation's Jane Joyce, left, and her daughter Brooke at the 10th Anniversary reception of the Anne Fontaine Boutique located at The Heritage on the Garden. (Photo by Roger Farrington)

In 1998 noted French fashion designer Anne Fontaine launched her brand in the U.S. with her first boutique at The Heritage on The Garden in Boston.

To celebrate her 10-year anniversary and to show appreciation to her loyal customers, Ms. Fontaine made an in-store appearance at a December cocktail reception benefiting the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

The designer's lifestyle brand began as a collection of crafted white shirts. It has since become synonymous with elegance and charm.

Among the guests and supporters enjoying the benefit reception were real estate developer Ron Druker, Anne Fontaine CEO Ari Zlotkin, Boutique manager Amanda Tickler, the Rett Syndrome Foundation's Susan Fitzgerald, and North End resident Nancy Greenberg, just to name a very few.

For information about the Anne Fontaine Boutique, please call 617-423-0366. For information about the Rett Syndrome Foundation, visit www.rettsyndrome.org.

"10th Annual Flavors of Neponset Valley Gala" Planned

The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its "10th Annual Flavors of Neponset Valley Gala" on Thursday, March 26, at Christina's in Foxboro.

Guests will enjoy gourmet fare from more than sixty food and beverage stations staffed by the area's finest restaurants, caterers, vineyards, specialty beers, spirits, confectioners, and more.

Included with admission is a 5 p.m. "Wine Seminar" presented by Len Presutti, Corporate Wine
Educator of the Martignetti Companies.

Entertainment will feature an ensemble from the Neponset Valley Philharmonic Orchestra serenading attendees with elegant chamber music as they enter Christina's, as well as The Echos, performing music of the 50s and 60s.

Silent auction items include restaurant gift certificates, gift baskets, wines, sports memorabilia, and more.

For tickets and more information, call 781-769-1126 or visit www.nvcc.com.

Joyce Kulhawik to Emcee Benefit Gala

We are all invited to join the American Cancer Society at its fourth annual "Key Gala," where "Hope is Ever Green" on Saturday, March 28 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.

The elegant affair is an opportunity for guests to celebrate the recent opening of the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston, a program of the Society, which provides free, temporary lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers needing to travel to Boston for treatment.

All proceeds from the gala will benefit the on-going operational costs of the Lodge, which opened in November 2008.

"Too often patients are forced to forgo treatment due to the prohibitive costs of lodging and travel," said Janet McGrail, Society vice president for health initiatives in Massachusetts. "The funds raised through this event will have a real impact on their lives by providing a home away from home, allowing them to focus on what is really important-their recovery."

Special guests include the event's honorary chair, Shonda Schilling, and mistress of ceremonies, Joyce Kulhawik, the noted arts and entertainment critic, and three-time cancer survivor.

The evening will feature a cocktail reception and hors d'oeuvres, an Emerald raffle, a super silent auction, dinner, and dancing to the sounds of one of New England's premier bands, Mystique. Cocktail attire with a hint of green is welcome.

A special highlight of the evening's live auction portion will be unique pottery planters hand-painted by Massachusetts General Hospital for Children's pediatric oncology patients.

"Super Silent Auction" items include a one week stay at Casa Sophia in Tulum, Mexico including airfare; a five-night stay at Black Rock Lodge in Belize; the ultimate New England Sports Experience with a pair of tickets to see the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox and New England Patriots, and a Monday Night Football Package for eight including eight tickets in the Club Seat Level at a Patriots home game with a tailgate basket. In addition, the Emerald Raffle features diamond and emerald earrings donated by Firestone & Parson Jewelers of Boston.

The AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston, located at 125 South Huntington Avenue, will annually provide free lodging and support services to more than 1,500 cancer outpatients and their caregivers who must travel far from home for treatment in Boston. The new facility reuses the site of the former Vincent Memorial Hospital originally built in 1907 and the Society has applied for Gold level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental design.

With 40 private guest suites, a library, common dining areas, and transportation services, the Lodge will enable more patients than ever before to take advantage of the state-of-the-art cancer treatments offered in the city's premier medical institutions. A Community Resource Center in the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston also provides outreach to the community with cancer information and resources.

For gala ticket information, contact Caitlin Bell at 781-314-2667 or Caitlin.Bell@cancer.org. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.cancer.org/newenglandgalas.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
is compiled from various other sources such as news releases, PRNewswire services, etc.

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