Brenda Melton
Founder and Director, Celebrity Martini Glass Auction
A fun girls’ night out inspired Brenda Melton to create her own charity fundraiser, now in its fourth year. When Melton invited several friends to dinner and a movie (Sex and the City), she asked each one to design a martini glass with a nod to the film’s famous cocktail, the Cosmopolitan. The night was such a hit that when she planned a viewing party for the sequel, she contacted Sarah Jessica Parker, Melania Trump and Manolo Blahnik, along with other celebrities tied to the Sex and the City movies, to see if they would sign the glasses. Surprisingly, they all did. Melton then decided to offer them to the Naples International Film Festival for a fundraiser, and the glasses were sold at the first Celebrity Martini Glass Auction. In addition to raising money for the film festival, proceeds from the latest auction in February benefited veterans’ groups PAWS Assistance Dogs, which provides service dogs to disabled veterans, and Honor Flight. “I always wanted to do something for veterans,” Melton says. “My dad served; I’m an Air Force brat. My husband, Phil, was a Marine and his father was in the Navy. It’s been a part of my life.”
Favorite local places: Truluck’s, Brio Tuscan Grille, Sea Salt, Chops City Grill, Food & Thought, Bayside’s upstairs bar, The Café on Fifth Avenue South.
What she can’t leave home without: A hug from my husband and my cell phone.
A perfect Naples weekend: Because we are out all the time, I’d say staying home with my husband and cat, Yoda, in my comfies, with no makeup, catching up on Nashville and The Good Wife.
Favorite books: To Kill a Mockingbird and my most recent read, Uncle Al Capone, by Deirdre Capone, a local author and grandniece of Al Capone.
Words to live by: When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, “I used everything you gave me.”
Stress reliever: Walking four miles to Food & Thought every day and getting a wheat grass shot.
Fashion musts: Style essentials include my signature white blouse and white T-shirts..
Photography by Roland Scarpa
Hair and makeup by Philip Douglas
Styled by Ashleigh Schufeldt, Saks Fifth Avenue, Naples
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