3Cs fashion show raises funds for Kootenai County charities

More than $2.8 million has flowed back into Kootenai County organizations through Cancer and Community Charities since 1962, and the group’s 27th annual fashion show once again was built to keep that money moving. The longtime volunteer organization says every dollar stays in Kootenai County, where it supports cancer-related needs and local nonprofits that rely on private fundraising to fill gaps.

The spring luncheon and runway show was held April 11 at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. This year’s event featured 30 models showing fashions from local shops and boutiques, part of what 3Cs describes as its largest annual fundraiser and one of its most popular events. The organization has used the fashion show to turn a single gathering into year-round grantmaking for community causes across Coeur d’Alene and the rest of the county.

The scale has grown steadily. Last year’s 26th annual fashion show drew more than 300 attendees and raised $75,000 for Kootenai County charities. In 2025, 3Cs distributed $115,000 to 29 local charities. In 2024, the nonprofit announced a record $135,000 giveaway to 32 local charities and nonprofits, the largest distribution in its history.

For Laura Chambers, who chaired the fashion show, the event’s purpose was simple. “What makes me happier than anything is raising money for our community,” she said. That volunteer-driven message has become the backbone of 3Cs, which says its members are women committed to fighting cancer and assisting local nonprofits.

The result is a fundraiser that functions as more than a social event at the resort. It is part of the county’s informal safety net, a reminder that many local needs are met not through government programs alone, but through clubs, volunteers and donors willing to keep showing up.