Goodwill and the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts are partnering together to host the Little Black Dress event Sept. 24 to continue their missions in helping the community.
President CEO of Goodwill Industries of Michiana Debie Coble said the Little Black Dress is an event that has occurred in South Bend for a number of years, and she is excited to bring this event to the center stage at the Wagon Wheel. Partnering with the Wagon Wheel has added a new twist to the fashion show.
She said this year there will be some celebrity models, a “Who Wore it Best” segment, a silent auction and undisclosed male models strutting down the catwalk. There also will be a small boutique consisting of the best items from Goodwill’s 22 stores. There also will be designer purses for sale.
Development Director For Wagon Wheel Center of the Arts Julie Parke said she is excited for the show, and said this is a great way to reach out to a community partner to create a better quality of life for people in the community.
“We feel the arts are so important,” Parke said. “On the surface it may not seem like a natural partnership, but it really is a great fit.”
Parke said the proceeds from the show will continue to help to provide access of art for youth and children. She said the Wagon Wheel works hard to give children access to the arts.
Coble said their portion of the proceeds will continue the mission of Goodwill, which is to provide jobs, training and placement for those with barriers in employment.
Another not-for-profit, Our Father’s House, will provide the refreshments for the show. This makes three not-for-profits “benefitting from this great adventure,” Parke said.
Tickets are available the day of the show, but it is suggested to purchase tickets prior to the show so there will be enough refreshments for everyone. Tickets are available to purchase at the Wagon Wheel, calling the box office at 574-267-8041 or online www.goodwillfashionshow.com
“We’re glad to be a part of this signature event that Goodwill has created and nurtured,” Parke said. “To be able to partner with them on something like that in our community is such a nice validation of both organizations.”
Coble said it makes sense for the organizations to be working so closely together.
“We’re both about improving lives of individuals,” she said.
Fashion Show Producer and Wardrobe Stylist and Image Consultant Kathy Friend has been working the event as the producer, stylist and emcee since it began. She also has consulted with Goodwill for more than 10 years. She is excited to be partnering with the Wagon Wheel at this year’s event. She said there is no partnership that would not work with Goodwill.
“This is a fun way to see what Goodwill is about and what we have,” Friend said. “It’s been a learning experience.”
Friend is styling the models in three looks: business, causal and the fancy little black dress to finish the show.
“It’s more important to make the models look amazing in Goodwill clothes and not necessary show trends,” Friend said. “We want the models to look amazing to show the audience you can shop at Goodwill and look like this.”
Be sure to check the Times-Union Facebook page at 2 p.m. Monday for a question from this story. The first person to comment the correct answer will win two tickets to the fashion show.
(Story By The Times Union)
