Jill Granucci ’12

This weeks campus celebrity is our very own Her Campus blogger, Jill Granucci! Although you may read her witty and informative blogs on Her Campus each week, I bet you didn’t know she also participates in one of the coolest philanthropy events called Art Bra. Putting the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to shame, Jill struts the runway every August wearing creative, home-decorated bras to be auctioned off for a great cause. I chatted with Jill to get all the deets!
 
Tell Me All About this Event:
This event is called ArtBra and it happens every August. ArtBra is put on by After the Storm, Inc. which is a non-profit group located in Connecticut. ArtBra takes place at a beautiful wedding and event place on the Connecticut River called The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam, CT.  The event begins with heavy appetizers and complimentary pinktinis (martinis that are pink!) There are about 5 models and we model the bras that people have created. We walk up and down the runway and people bid for the bras that we are wearing. There is a real auctioneer running the show and he does such a great job getting the crowd riled up!
 

(Jingle Bra!)

How did you get involved with this?
Our family friend, Christine Brady Willett, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 while she was pregnant with her second child. Christine went through treatment and is a survivor. She was determined to help other women after their ordeal. That is how she started After the Storm, Inc. Christine came up with the ArtBra fundraiser and needed some girls to model bras.  I was honored that she asked me to help out with such a great cause.
 
This is not your typical bra runway show is it?
Not quite. These bras a really works of Art. People spend lots of time coming up with creative ideas and putting jewels, feathers, etc on them. I even modeled one that had parts of a bees’ nest on it… that one was called “Boo-Bees!”
 
What is After the Storm, Inc?
After the Storm, Inc. is a group that assists cancer survivors in the healing process and helps them return to a normal way of life during the aftermath of their treatment and diagnosis.  The money is donated to the many different needs of breast cancer survivors “After the Storm.”

(the Co-Bra!) 

What is this night so special to you?  
I think this night is so special to me because I did not realize what I was getting myself in to. This night is a way for women suffering with breast cancer to take their mind off of their current situation and helps them keep positive and because they will survive.  It touches my heart to see all of the teams of doctors and nurses that are there to support this great cause and their fellow and former patients. People can really be so amazing and generous. I think that this night is definitely one of my favorite nights of the year!
 
What was it like the first time you did it?
I was definitely nervous and I was wearing the highest heels so I was afraid that I was going to trip! When I got out there, my adrenaline was kicking in, I was dancing to the music and really just having a great time! We had a great crowd and everyone in the crowd is probably just as excited to be there as I am! After walking down the runway, the auctioneer continued to work the crowd and get people to bid on the bra I was wearing. My first bra that I ever modeled sold for 400 dollars!
 
So you have been involved for several years now, how have you seen the event grow? The event has gotten so big, that we had to move it to a bigger venue. It is now held at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station. The event has sold out every year and it is the most talked about fundraiser on the Shoreline. Each year, the bras that are modeled have sold for more and more money. This year the bras were going for about 600-700 dollars. In addition, we raised 15,000 dollars in 2010 for breast cancer survivors but in 2011 we raised 23,000 dollars for breast cancer survivors.
 
What have been some of your favorite bras?
Some of my favorite bras were this one called “Deer in the Headlights” which was a camo bra and head antlers like a deer. There were two LED lights that I had control of, so I was making myself blink as I walked down the runway. The crowd loved it! Another one of my favorites was one called Jingle Bells, made by one of my best friend from high school’s mom. She sewed hundreds of jingle bells onto this bra. It made so much noise! That was another big seller. 

(Deer in the Headlights!) 

For more information on the organization and the event, visit After The Storm, Inc’s website at www.afterthestorminc.org.