My Fairy Godfathers Foundation Celebrates 'Oscar Night' Raising Nearly $200K at Annual Charity Ball in Tampa, FL

CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the Bay area's premier black-tie events recently offered guests an extraordinary evening filled with red carpet-style glamour as "My Fairy Godfathers" Foundation held their annual charitable gala at Armature Works. For a third consecutive year, founders Andrew Ashton and Steven Anderson wowed more than 300 attendees with a silent/live auction, the chance to win an exquisite 2-carat diamond and a setting with life-size Oscar statues and paparazzi. In the days following the gala, more generous donations arrived totaling nearly $200,000, going directly toward their mission of 'empowering women through beauty.'

Among the evening's highlights: numerous recipients sharing emotional testimonials. Maria Mueller, a breast cancer survivor, said her husband didn't even know she was wearing a wig after Anderson had fit her at the salon. She shared that the foundation made a bad situation much better.

"The evening gives us a platform to demonstrate first-hand the change that can be created with one act of kindness," said Co-founder, Steven Anderson.

Wine and cocktails accompanied the three-course dinner and were provided by Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. An exciting live auction that included luxury getaways, dining experiences and VIP trips were bid on while footage from the foundation's inspirational events over the last decade was showcased. From Prom beauty experiences, scholarships to wig donations at cancer centers in California, Ashton and Anderson's passion shines through, despite the difficulty recipients are facing. Local and regional businesses also showed their support for the philanthropic event with Ultimate Image Cosmetic Medical Center, Domain Homes and Hooters among them.

Andrew Ashton commented, "It's overwhelming; seeing our incredible donors meet our deserving recipients is magical. It also fills my heart for recipients to feel the warmth and generosity of others, reminding them how many truly embrace our motto."

A testament to the human spirit was the heartfelt speech from wig and beauty experience recipient, Arianna Murrow of New York. She was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma as a high school senior and met with an avalanche of emotions. "Cancer wouldn't take my hope. I submitted college applications from my hospital bed and now a student at John Hopkin's University, I am healthy and grateful. Two men decided confidence isn't a luxury and helped me find joy at a time when I looked and felt my worst. They made Prom night more special and more importantly, helped me feel seen again."

While Anderson and Ashton both still see clients at La Posh Salon in Clearwater, Fla., their true passion is serving others. They believe everyone deserves a little sparkle, a boost of confidence and a whole lot of love. This is evident in all the foundation's various programs; personalized wig donations, surprising teens with beauty bags and Prom Makeover experiences or awarding deserving students with scholarships to help prepare them for college. The generosity has been seen throughout the U.S., and this year eclipsed a total of 7,000 females that have been helped. Whether it is abuse, illness or an environment that seems designed to keep them from success, "My Fairy Godfathers" Foundation provides them with the tools to help them shine as brightly on the outside as they do within. Its charitable efforts have been showcased most notably on "The Drew Barrymore Show" in addition to HSN, Great Day Live, BLOOM and Tampa Bay Magazine. Ashton and Anderson also launched an entertaining and insightful podcast this year called "Giving Back through Beauty" that can be found at Apple, Spotify and other major platforms. To interview "My Fairy Godfathers" or learn more, contact Blair LaHaye at [email protected]. Visit myfairygodfathers.net to donate and to submit details on a deserving female in your area.

SOURCE My Fairy Godfathers