From left: Fashion show benefit organizer Shari Field-Goldberg (third from right) is grateful for the support of Closetful Boutique owner Nona Lynn (far right) and (from left) Salon Fusion’s Gia Mora, James Ruggiero, Doreen Ruggiero, Luba Gutman and Shannon Discher (Tom Waring)
Shari Field-Goldberg looks the picture of health, complete with her stylish haircut and wardrobe.
In reality, she has suffered from neck and spinal pain for years.
“You can’t see the pain on the inside,” she said.
In March, she underwent a spinal cord stimulator operation after the pain intensified to the point she had difficulty moving or rolling over in bed.
Afterward, inspired by the care and treatment she received from her doctor and his staff, she decided to help others who are battling neck and back pain.
The East Windsor, N.J., resident is organizing a benefit fashion show for this Saturday, from 6 to 10 p.m., at Chow284 Bar & Restaurant, at 284 E. Street Road in Feasterville. The event will include silent and Chinese auctions with prizes such as artwork, gift certificates, baskets, clothing and a cheese-tasting event from Princeton’s Olsson’s Fine Foods.
Tickets are available at the door. They cost $15 per person, or $25 per couple. Children are welcome. Admission is $5 for them.
The cost includes hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages.
Proceeds go to the Spinal Research Foundation.
A cash bar and featured menu are also available, and clothing will be for sale. Twenty percent of all those sales will go to the Spinal Research Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2002 and headquartered in Reston, Va. It focuses on research, education and patient advocacy for people with neck and back pain.
Dr. Nirav Shah, a renowned neurological surgeon at Princeton Brain & Spine Care, will address the crowd and answer questions. He performed Goldberg’s surgery.
“He’s giving me my life back,” said Goldberg, who also credits Dr. Maher Ibrahim, a pain-management specialist.
The party atmosphere will include a Starbucks station and will continue outside with vendors, tables and a tent.
Women will model the latest spring and summer fashions from Closetfull Boutique in Feasterville. Children will show clothing lines from Luxaby Baby & Child in Princeton, N.J.
The models will have their hair designed and styled by Feasterville’s Salon Fusion, which is donating 10 percent of sales from April 15 to May 15 to the Spinal Research Foundation. Makeup will be applied by the artists at Feasterville’s Beauty 101.
Goldberg, 48, who is married with two children and two stepsons, believes the fund-raiser will be a success because of the generosity of others. The show will feature a mix of moms and daughters, along with professional male and female models.
“People are so kind and considerate. These people are like my family. They say, ‘Anything for you, Shari,’ ” she said. “It’s going to be a nice little show. It’s going to be really cute.”
Goldberg is a former employee of Closetfull Boutique, and owner Nona Lynn is glad to participate. She’ll donate auction items in addition to supplying clothing for models.
“I miss her dearly. She’s a great lady, and it’s nice she’s doing this,” Lynn said.
Salon Fusion is adjacent to Closetfull Boutique, and Lynn’s sister, Luba Gutman, is one of the owners. Goldberg is a client, and Gutman said staff and customers are like a family.
Goldberg thanks Salon Fusion for giving up a portion of prom season to get the models ready for the show, but Gutman said she and her stylists are happy to be a part of the effort.
“We do quite a bit of charity. It’s sort of part of the salon,” she said.
Chow284 might not have a fancy ballroom or a catwalk, but Goldberg realized the restaurant would be just fine for a fashion show while having lunch there one day with her husband. She hopes for a crowd of about 250.
“We’re going to make it happen,” she said. “I have a passion for what I believe in.”
Chow284 owner Scott Martin, whose restaurant — the former site of Inn Flight and Wink Walker restaurants — has been open a little more than a year, has been involved with other charitable efforts, but nothing like the upcoming fashion show.
“Shari came in with a cause and quickly won me over,” he said. “She’s doing an incredible job. Everyone is on board and really excited about it. It’s a feel-good story.”
Goldberg hopes to raise a nice sum of money for the Spinal Research Foundation, and she’s cautiously optimistic that she can lead a mostly pain-free life.
“I’m alive, and I have my whole life ahead of me,” she said. ••
A really big show . . .
Shari Field-Goldberg is planning a charity fashion show for Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Chow284 Bar & Restaurant, at 284 E. Street Road in Feasterville.
Tickets are available at the door. Adults pay $15 per person, or $25 per couple. Childen pay $5. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic drinks. A cash bar and full menu will also be available.
Proceeds go to the Spinal Research Foundation. All contributions are tax deductible.
Contact Field-Goldberg at 617–872–3240 or shari610@yahoo.com, or call Chow284 at 215–357–9988.
