Fashion for a Cause

Mentors and Mentees from Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA will be “Rocking the Runway” in Ambler this October!

A new fundraising event is bringing together the Ambler community this fall in support of youth mentoring. The event, called “Fashion for a Cause,” was created by several local Ambler business owners who wanted to start something positive for kids in the area by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA.

While Montgomery County has been ranked among the highest in the nation in income, it also houses areas with astonishing rates of crime, poverty, and failing schools and is home to approximately 20,000 at-risk youth. The goal of the event is to raise money and community awareness of the challenges faced by local children. The funds raised through Fashion for a Cause will help Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA provide their one-to-one mentoring program to more children. Last year, the non-profit agency served more than 3,000 children in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, but unfortunately, they have 1,200 more children on their waiting list. Children in the program have been proven to achieve measurable outcomes, like educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. In recent years, 96% of children in the program were not arrested; 98% avoided becoming a teen parent; 96% advanced to the next grade; and 95% avoided tobacco, drugs and alcohol.

This unique event will feature a fashion show, dance performance, silent auction and cocktail reception for 200 area residents and local businesses. It will all take place on Cavalier Drive in Ambler, where the alley way will be transformed into a catwalk, complete with light-up runway and step-and-repeat for photo ops. Twelve of the models who will be strutting their stuff in the fashion show are current mentors and mentees (“Bigs” and “Littles”) in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA program. The Free Shop, a local Ambler fashion retailer, will provide clothing for the models’ fall styles and Gravity Hair Salon will complete the looks with runway-ready hair and makeup. Party goers will enjoy wine and specialty drinks, delicious food from Main Street staple Bridget’s Steakhouse, and music by Hot Hot Hot Entertainment. After the show, they’ll move inside for the after party at Addicted 2 Dance and bid on exciting silent auction items.

The idea for the event came from the owners of Gravity Hair Salon, Joe Kaub and Kara Anentucci, and Anthony Vennera, owner of Hot Hot Hot Entertainment. Together they are huge supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters. They organized a planning committee consisting of various local business owners who have been working on the event since last fall. They have set a fundraising goal of $25,000 for the first year and so far, they have thirteen confirmed sponsors.

Current sponsors include Gregory Dries, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor, The Lewis Dries Group at Morgan Stanley; Paone Builders; Park Avenue Motor Cars; Ambler Savings Bank; and Continental Bank. Montco Happening is also proud to be the official media sponsor. Contributors include Hot Hot Hot Entertainment; Bridget’s Steakhouse; Joy Moody Photography; Gravity Hair Salon; Free Shop Clothing Company; Addicted 2 Dance Company; and FVM Strategic Communications.

*Tickets are on sale now on the event website: www.amblergives.org.

*For information about the event or to get your company involved as a sponsor or donor of silent auction items, email amblergives@gmail.com.

*For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA, visit www.bbbssepa.org.

Details: Fashion for a Cause
Friday, October 5th, 2012
7pm: Cocktail Hour at Addicted 2 Dance (15 Cavalier Drive, Ambler, PA, 19002)
8pm – 10pm: Fashion Show on Cavalier Drive
10pm: After-party and Silent Auction at Addicted 2 Dance

Contact
Liz Semon, Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA
LSemon@bbbssepa.org
Work #484.482.1439
Cell #570.430.0793