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Soap stars help sisters raise funds for charity

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2009

TAMPA - Two Largo sisters are gearing up for their fifth annual meet-and- greet session with stars from daytime TV.

Barbie Tsagaris, 46, and Patti Werynski, 55, lined up three soap opera actors and one actress for the Nov. 7 event. It will be from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at Ahepa Lodge Home at 1156 Jasper St. W. in Largo.

Scheduled to appear are "All My Children" stars Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David Hayward); Bobbie Eakes (Crystal) and Walt Willey (Jackson Montgomery); as well as Forbes March (Mason Jarvis) from "As the World Turns."

The event raises money for charities. This year, proceeds from the $75 per-person tickets will go to Our Military Kids, a nonprofit group that helps children of people serving in the military.

"We think it will be a special event for 'All My Children' fans because the show is moving from New York to Los Angeles," says Tsagaris. "Also, the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando has discontinued its annual soap opera days so we don't get to see our favorite stars there any more."

In 2008, Disney, which owns ABC, decided to discontinue the annual Super Soap weekends which featured stars from ABC daytime dramas. Also, ABC is relocating "All My Children" to Los Angeles and some longtime cast members, such as Willey, are not making the move.

Tsagaris says the networks have been cutting back on soap operas ("Passions" and "Guiding Light" were canceled), but there are still many loyal fans.

She and her sister grew up watching daytime television with their mother and grandmother.

"All My Children," "General Hospital" and "One Life to Live" are the sisters' favorites.

They went to most of the Super Soap Weekends at Walt Disney World. It was a girls' getaway weekend with their mother.

Tsagaris said they were inspired to start their charity event after meeting Willey at one of the soap weekends. Willey, a frequent visitor to the Tampa area, helped them recruit daytime actors.

Willey is a stand-up comic who often appears at Side Splitters Comedy Club.

Tsagaris says reservations are filling up. The cutoff date is Nov. 1. The ticket price includes a light lunch.

"In the past, people have really enjoyed this because it's an intimate setting and you get to spend a lot of time with the stars," Tsagaris says.

For information call (727) 410-0427 or e-mail designers.image@hotmail.com.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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