Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2023

COAST NOTE
Because Kids Should Live
The SoSo Strong Gala is back and takes place at the Beau Rivage September 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The first event was held in 2019 and took a break during the pandemic. The gala benefits the So So Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation founded to honor Sophia Myers who died of a brain tumor in 2017 at age 7. Her parents, Seth Myers and Angel Myers McIlrath, started the organization.
SOSO
McIlrath, says the gala will be really fantastic. “We'll sell raffle tickets for a Louis Vitton handbag, called Purse for a Purpose, and a split the pot,” she said. “The entertainment will be by Gram Rae and Paper Chase Band; music for everyone.”
A special feature will include photos of the children who lost their lives to brain tumors and those fighting it now. The illness is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and is rare with no cure and not a lot of research at this time. Funds raised go toward research and helping families with expenses.
“I want to thank the gala chairman, Stephanie Payne,” McIlrath said. “It's heavy for me and I have to lean on her.”
GALA
STRONG
story by Lynn Lofton
SoSo Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
P.O. Box 632, Ocean Springs 228.327.3133 www.sososstrongpbtf.org
Suzanne Stafford Receives Mississippi Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant story and photo courtesy of Faery Court Masquerade Ball
Suzanne Stafford of Saucier, Mississippi, has been awarded a $500 individual
artist mini-grant from the Mississippi
Arts Commission (MAC). This grant is a portion of the more than $1.75 million
in grants MAC awarded in Fiscal Year 2024 and will be used to purchase fashion components for Stafford’s next faery fantasy costume cosplay. The project will explore the juxtaposition of a high fashion feminine formal gown combined with ornate, baroque wrought iron armor.
“With the additional funds provided to MAC this fiscal year, we are able to fund 37 more grants that are providing an economic impact for Mississippi communities, the arts, and education
Mississippi Arts Commission www.arts.ms.gov
throughout the state,” said David Lewis, executive director for the Mississippi Arts Commission. “We are grateful for the support from the Mississippi Legislature and elected officials who helped prioritize the arts in Mississippi.”
Stafford is the principal of Faery
Court Masquerade Ball and Elemental Design. She is an artist, designer (interior design, graphic design, fashion design), event planner, costumer, seamstress,
and cosplayer. The mission of the Faery Ball events is Costumes, Community, Causes. Stafford helps people exhausted by adulting to immerse into the magic of costume to ignite passion and creativity in their life.
Faery Court Masquerade Ball www.faery-ball.com
18 | September 2023
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living