Over $3 Million Worth of Wedding Dresses Stolen From Charity

Over $3 Million Worth of Wedding Dresses Stolen From Charity

LOS ANGELES, CA – Over $3 Million dollars worth of wedding dresses enroute to a charity event in Los Angeles were stolen this morning just days before the event opens to the public. Some time between 7:30 am and 8:30 am the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation’s truck and 40’ white cargo trailer filled with over $3 million dollars of new and used wedding dresses was stolen from a Phoenix, Arizona hotel parking lot as it was enroute to the next event in Los Angeles. Both the trailer, described as 40 foot, 5 wheel Pace American white cargo trailer and the white 2006 Ford F350 crew cab 4WD dually diesel pickup, which was donated to the charity, were discovered missing early this morning by Fran Hansen, co-founder of the organization.

Making Memories is an organization that grants dying wishes for patients diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. The main fundraising is done through the sale of wedding gowns that have been donated by manufacturers, bridal shops and individuals. The organization drives the trailer full of wedding dresses, wedding accessories, garment racks, and mirrors from city to city hosting a sale in key cities across the country in the “Nationwide Tour of Gowns”, known as “Brides Against Breast Cancer”. The foundation was headed to Hollywood, California for the next event that is supposed to start setting up on Thursday at the Hyatt West Hollywood.

“The real pain here is not a missing truck or a missing trailer. The tragedy is that the Los Angeles sale is one of our biggest and we were counting on raising the funds here that we need to grant the Christmas wishes we have waiting. These are not just dresses to us, they are wishes we can make come true for people who are truly suffering and promises we have made to brides who donated them,” said Fran Hansen.

The charity is mobilizing two other smaller trucks from around the country to pick up dresses and supplies at the warehouse in Portland, Oregon and drive straight through to ensure that the Los Angeles event can achieve its very important goals.

“We’d like to reach out to local bridal salons, manufacturers and wedding industry companies, to ask for donations to help us restock what was taken. Wedding dresses, cash donations, products for our silent auction or any other help to make sure the Hollywood event succeeds would be greatly appreciated and can be brought to the Hyatt West Hollywood on Thursday, Friday or Saturday between 9am and 5pm,” said Suzanne Appel, Los Angeles Chairperson.

The Charity Wedding Gown Sale will be held in the ballroom at the Hyatt West Hollywood Hotel, located at 8401 Sunset Boulevard, on Friday, November 10, from 10 AM to 8 PM and on Saturday, November 11, from 10 AM until 6 PM. Admission is free. 100% of proceeds from the sale of the wedding dresses goes toward granting wishes for terminal breast cancer patients.

Making Memories is a charitable, non-profit organization founded for the express purpose of granting memory-making events and last wishes to women and men who suffer from metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other areas of the body, most often bones, lungs, liver and brain. Once diagnosed, it is considered terminal, as there has yet to be a cure for breast cancer once it leaves its original site.

The tragedy of this illness, as with any terminal disease, is not limited to the physical and emotional impact. In many cases an enormous financial strain is placed on the family. When the insurance is exhausted and the hospitals are paid there is often no money left for extras. This means that many families cannot afford special moments together that might lift spirits and ease the turmoil of “saying goodbye.”

It is our intention to “make a difference” in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease. Our wish-granting service helps put the realities of this terminal illness aside, if just for a few days, while providing the opportunity for a family to spend quality time together. Our hope is that every metastatic breast cancer patient will be able to pass from this world comforted with the joy of having left his or her family a final beautiful memory—something the family will look back on and remember for a lifetime.


Wishes Granted

Wish requests include trips to Disney World for families with young children, second honeymoons, family reunions, cruises, video cameras to leave behind recorded messages, Christmas gifts and laptop computers to keep up on current breast cancer research. Bill Gates, Faith Hill, LA Lakers, Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Indians have all granted wishes to terminal patients for Making Memories.

Press Inquiries

Fran Hansen 503-307-5600 or fran@makingmemories.org for non-immediate issues.

Suzanne Appel, Los Angeles Chairperson, can be reached on 310.920.8204 or babc@greenappels.com.

Set-up for the event will begin on Thursday, November 9th at 12 noon – 6pm and media is invited to attend. Models will be available and wearing donated gowns during set-up for media coverage from 3pm-6pm. Live coverage of the event is also encouraged and may begin as early as November 10th @ 6am, reporters are invited to attend. John Moore, Hyatt Catering Director, can assist with site needs. Please contact him at 323-785-6064.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation is a recognized non-profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

12708 SE Stephens Street, Portland, OR 97233 P: 503-829-4486 F: 503-829-3871


For more information please visit our website at www.makingmemories.org or call 503-307-5600.