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Focus on Females Foundation

Organization's Mission
The mission of Focus on Females Education Foundation is to make everyone a “lay” expert on their individual medical problems, changing behavior and reducing health illiteracy through dynamic and interactive educational programs with real physicians answering real questions, speaking plain English and giving practical, ready to use information on a wide variety of topics. Participation in these programs will empower women and families to better partner with their doctors for more effective office visits preventing unnecessary suffering and the economic burdens of avoidable health and emergency care.

The Focus on Females Education Foundation, Inc is a registered 501c3 not-for-profit organization created to sustain the Focus on Females Women’s Healthcare Symposium in our community, as well as bring this event to cities outside of Tampa. The Foundation will be funded by private foundations, government grants, private donations and special programs. All of the Foundation’s efforts are dedicated to identifying and bringing the events to candidate cities.

Tax deductible donations to the Foundation are always appreciated. Each and every dollar provides support to empower more individuals to take control of their health by providing essential knowledge and education. Be a donor in what has been described as a “phenomenon” to reduce health illiteracy in our community. No donation is too small.


Fashionistas is a group of women passionate about helping to raise funds for local worthy causes through professional, fashion-oriented events that often include the attendance of national celebrities. The Focus on Females Education Foundation, Inc. (FOFEF) is honored to be the first organization that Fashionistas has chosen to support.

On June 7, 2008, the Fashionistas hosted an Underwriters' Party at the luxurious, waterfront home of Blake Casper in support of the 4th annual Focus on Females Women's Healthcare Symposium. The party featured Rita Coolidge, one of the most versatile singers of the Rock Generation, and two-time Grammy Award winner. The evening was spectacular. Attendance exceeded 200 guests and we raised nearly $50,000.00.

Fashionistas next event to support FOFEF is the Fashionistas Fashion Show on Saturday, November 8th, 2008. The Fashion Show will include:

  • A star-studded day & evening in Old Hyde Park Village!
  • Professionally choreographed, celebrity Fashion Show produced by Kit's Well-Heeled & Well-Dressed
  • Performance by Anita Pointer, singer-songwriter and a member of the American Grammy Award-winning Pop/R&B recording group, “The Pointer Sisters”!
  • Appearances by local top models and celebrity athletes
  • Exhibits by an industry wide array of Tampa Bay's most prominent businesses
  • Wine & Dine with Timpano's, Wine Exchange, 717 South, and Bailey's!
  • Professional live and silent auctions

Please join the Fashionistas in sponsoring the 4th Annual Focus on Females® Women's Healthcare Symposium. Your contribution will go directly toward the creation of an endowment that will support, staff, and further expand FOFEF, a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, with the goal to become self-sustaining and positioned to save and transform lives for generations to come.

Below are only two of many testimonials that have empowered the Fashionistas and those that are joining hands making it possible for the FOFEF to perpetuate!

Norma Goldberger wrote:
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 19:47:41 -0400
From: “Norma Goldberger”
Subject: Thank You

This is an overdue thank you for March 2008 Focus on Females. One of my program choices was the one on skin cancer because I was concerned slightly about a flat mole on my neck that seemed to be getting larger. Because of the excellent presentation with slides I became motivated enough to go for a skin screening by a dermatologist who said I definitely required a biopsy. He wasn't one of my providers and I chose USF dermatology due to the speaker. The mole was biopsied and it was a lentigo melanoma in situ.

Norma's biopsy showed the mole was actually an early stage of melanoma and was removed immediately. Melanoma is deadly as it can quickly metastasize and kill within months.

Because of early detection Norma's life was saved. And, it was saved for relatively few dollars compared to what might have happened had intervention been delayed where the medical bills could easily have reached tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another symposium attendee named Debbie went to the migraine seminar and wrote, “I have been fighting migraines for years and I learned more from the migraine seminar than I have in a lifetime.”

Cancer, migraines, diabetes, heart or other disease, is not the issue – being aware and enlightened with usable medical knowledge is what prevents unnecessary suffering and financial burdens on families.

To take advantage of the opportunities to participate in this upcoming Fashionistas fundraiser event for FOFEF, links to the following PDF files are available for you to download, complete, and submit. Simply click on the link that you desire and follow the instructions.

Thank you for caring and for your interest. If you have any questions or desire more information, please contact Fashionistas Chairs Kit Stewart at 813-765-4988 or Natalie Cheeseman at 813-310-8982 or email kit@kitswelldressed.com.

Fashionistas Chairs: Kit Stewart and Natalie Cheeseman

Fashionistas Marketing & PR Chair: Kimberly McCoskey, NextStep Strategies

FOFEF - Fashionistas Fashion Show Corporate Sponsorship Chair: Francine Levine

FOFEF - Fashionistas Fashion Show Committee Chairs: Doctor Sponsorships, Sally Welch; Patron Sponsorships, Dee Marksberry; In-Kind Donations, Robin Adkins-Vosler; Live and Silent Auction, Robin Roberts; Exhibition, Mary Crino; Food & Beverage, Sharmila Seth.

FOFEF - Fashionistas Fashion Show Committee Members: Angela Ardolino, Margaret Bicz, Melanie Bavol, Deborah Burkett, Carol Carbone, Lisa DeBartolo, Mitzi Gill, Mary Lou Gordon, Jennifer Marksberry, Dr. Linda McClintock-Greco, Liz McKee, Sandy Juster, Brooke Palmer, Myra Ragano, Jennifer Smith, Lisa Trentalange, and Barbie Winterbottom Roy.


Mrs. Eva Fogarty, an 89 year old accomplished painter, had become legally blind in both eyes. In 2004, Steven L. Maskin, M.D. was able to restore her vision after ocular surface reconstruction and corneal transplantation surgery. After having her vision restored Mrs. Fogarty with her love of art was able to begin painting again.

During the end of 2005 Mrs. Fogarty found out that on March 11, 2006, Dr. Maskin would be hosting the First Annual Focus on Females® Women's Healthcare Symposium. She obtained the 2006 brochure of events which included the Focus on Females® logo, and then a few weeks before the event Mrs. Fogarty honored Dr. Maskin with two paintings depicting how she envisioned the Focus on Females® Women's healthcare Symposium.

Mrs. Fogarty has graciously let one of the paintings be printed as posters for the Focus on Females® Education Foundation, Inc. to benefit future Focus on Females® Women's Healthcare Symposiums.
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