Woman opens home for good cause
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers BEJEWELED- Left, Wendy Himber of Simi Valley laughs with Dani Sparks of Agoura Hills and Amy Tidball of Calabasas as Sparks tries on earrings from Robin Coady Creations at a boutique held in the home of Agoura Hills resident Donna Lamm recently. Proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer.

Donna Lamm turned her Agoura Hills home into a boutique for a day and raised nearly $2,000 in about three hours for the cause of breast cancer.

Despite rainy weather, about 150 shoppers turned out Tues., Jan. 30 to support Lamm's efforts by browsing the various merchandise of 11 vendors.

Tables featuring jewelry, fine clothing, skin care products, books, candles and leather bags filled the first floor of Lamm's home. Vendors donated 20 percent of each sale to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"I'm thrilled by the turnout," Lamm said. "It's such a prevalent issue- - a lot of people feel they want to do something to help."

For people on both sides of the boutique- - vendors and shoppers- - breast cancer was a personal interest.

Lamm came up with the idea for the boutique to help her close friend Kaye Haskell of Oak Park, who is fighting breast cancer. Friends of both women quickly joined the effort. Haskell, 52, has had a mastectomy and is undergoing chemotherapy after discovering a lump on the side of her breast in September.

She had had a mammogram and a physician's examination six months before she discovered the lump. Haskell did not attend the boutique because she had become ill with shingles.

"I am really touched by everyone's support and genuine concern," Haskell said. During the boutique, the friends were frequently alluded to in conversations among browsers and shoppers.

"We wanted to help Donna support breast cancer research in honor of our friend Kaye," said author Barbara Bietz of Oak Park, who promoted her children's book, "Like a Maccabee," during the boutique.

With Bietz were her mother, Connie Foster, and sister, Elaine Markus-Newman, both of Oak Park, and her sister-in-law, Shani Foster of Encino, who sold Italian leather pocket belts. Shani Foster's mother is a breast cancer survivor.

Another vendor, Dawn Stillo of Oak Park, started her natural skin care business, La Femme Boheme, after losing her sister to skin cancer 10 years ago. Stillo talked to boutique visitors about how natural products, as opposed to toxinfilled synthetic ingredients, can boost the immune system.

"I wanted to turn poison into medicine, to try to do something good out of what happened to my sister," Stillo said.

Vendor Elly Salter of Agoura Hills wore a sample of the pajamas made by her company, Pajama Mama. Salter's sister had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer.

"I knew Donna wanted this to be an incredible event, and I believe positive attracts positive and makes change," Salter said.

Lamm planned the boutique in about six weeks, publicizing it through word-of-mouth, e-mail, fliers she put up at local schools and around her neighborhood. She had to turn away five vendors due to space limitations.

"I was worried about how many people I could fit into my house," said Lamm, who cleared out the living and dining room furniture for the evening.

Each vendor donated a prize for a raffle to raise additional funds.

Lamm credited her son, Stephen, an Oak Park High School sophomore, with encouraging her to organize the event.

"He does a lot of community service, and he said, 'Mom, you can do this,'" Lamm said.

After all the positive feedback she received from vendors and shoppers, Lamm is considering hosting another boutique.

"I get so much more out of it through the reward of all of these people showing their support," Lamm said.