Our Girl Linda Celebrates Cellucci

The fifth annual Our Girl Linda charity dance party had a new act. The evening was also a celebration of Yolanda Cellucci’s 90th birthday. Beyond being a fashion icon, an inspiration, a tv host, a wedding dress boutique owner, a woman who spread glitz and glam wherever she goes. Yolanda is a loving mother to Linda Cole Petrosian for whom the annual charity event was founded. Linda was a celebrity model known for her legendary smile, heart of gold, an apple that did not fall far from the Cellucci tree that was lost in 2018 to cancer.

The annual event began with walking into a main hall decorated with glamour shots of Linda, a running video of Yolanda’s glitterati interactions over the years. As a good Italian would the room was lined with tables of traditional party treats and a ten tier birthday cake from Montillo’s bakery that was sure to feed the five hundred plus guests in attendance.

The brightest sight in the room was Yolanda herself sitting on the Queen’s throne welcoming guests with class and charm, donned in all white from top to bottom finished with a feathered headpiece that was far beyond glitz, it was pure glamour.

The evening began with a royal entrance of Yolanda being escorted into the room with her two grandsons Dimitri and Alec on her arms and guided to her VIP seat front and center in her grand throne. The entertainment began with Jeannette A. McCarthy the Mayor of Waltham performed a charming skit appearing as herself to apply as a “Yolanda Girl” and proving a point when returning dolled up exuding the confidence Cellucci gives to all women. With her inspiring story transforming her own life from rags selling wigs out of the trunk of her car to the riches of the high end fashion lifestyle she now leads.

Following was a plethora of local organizations honoring Cellucci with awards such as the City of Waltham, The Waltham Salvation Army where you can see Yolanda every Christmas donating her time. The groups were close to her heart as she is constantly spending time with her local community and making it a brighter place to be.

There were also heartfelt speeches from the family. Her grandsons Dimitri and Alec Petrosian, granddaughter Milan spoke on her “GiGi” and gave insight into being married into the Cellucci clan. Telling the classic story of a typical Tuesday with her husband asking no questions, taking a tour into Brooklyn, and returning to Boston with the fabulous all white thrown Yolanda sat in all night. Her daughter Sondra Celli the iconic Swarovski bling designer honored her legendary life with stories on how she came from nothing, Yolanda mended her own coats over and over to look modern so her and her sister could have a new jacket until the day when her mother spun it all into glitz and glamour.

The entertainment was top class! In true flapper fashion the Waltham Star Dancer gave a tributed all white performance to the birthday beauty Yolanda and fitting for daughter Linda Cole Petrosian herself was sure to be shaking it along with them for the annual Our Girl Linda Foundation dance party. There were politically incorrect moments when Comedian Vinnie Favorito took the stage in a hysterical set. The doo whop band the Watch City Cadillacs opened up the dance floor and guests poured out to twist.

Even with all the birthday celebrations, entertainment this party was started with a cause. It was time to honor the fifth annual Our Girl Linda Foundation with a live auction to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. DJ Jimmy Esposito from 617Events Group took center stage to begin the bidding. Models and designers that were near and dear to Linda sharing runways with that gorgeous smile strutted out the donated items. They ranged from sports tickets, an authentic pink mink coat, five course dinners, wine tours, jewelry and more.

The fifth annual Our Girl Linda charity dance party was host to over five hundred plus in the packed Son’s of American Legion – Post 440 in Newton. The night was pure glitz and glamour in a birthday celebration reflective of the legend Yolanda Cellucci is. Also, a heartwarming and extraordinarily successful charity event that her daughter Linda would be so proud of and dancing away in spirit.

The Our Girl Linda Foundation is an amazing team of regulars and part-time volunteers committed to helping others. They take their love of Linda and turn that love into action. They donate all funds to finding a cure for cancer. All contributions are donated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. They formed the organization to bring together those who loved Linda. All give thanks to the helping hands of the amazing community; the Our Girl Linda Foundation was established in 2018. If you would like to donate, please visit www.ourgirllinda.com