NAPLES, Fla., (Feb. 4, 2014) – Teens walked the runway for reading at the 3rd annual K is for Kids Teen Fashion Show “From the Heart” at Barron Collier High School.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2014
Media Contact: Karen D. Clawson 
Founder & Executive Director, K is for Kids® Foundation
Phone: 239.596.KIDS (5437)
Email: [email protected]
By Kamilah Van, FGCU Communications Intern
Teens Walk the Runway for Reading
3rd Annual K is for Kids Teen Fashion Show gathered students of all ages for a good cause
NAPLES, Fla., (Feb. 4, 2014) – Teens walked the runway for reading at the 3rd annual K is for Kids Teen Fashion Show “From the Heart” at Barron Collier High School in Naples on Saturday, February 1st. High school students gained hands-on experience creating the elements of the show and offered something for kids of all ages.
The evening’s event began with a silent auction, raffle and reception. The first guests to arrive were treated to a goodie bag including the New York Times bestseller, “The Caterpillar Way,” by author Craig Bouchard, Chairman and CEO of Signature Group Holdings, who was on hand to sign copies of the book. Bouchard’s young daughters also performed in the show. Amongst the items auctioned were a Scream guitar, Naples Park Music guitar lessons, a Saks 5th Avenue gift basket, a round of golf for four from Olde Cypress Country Club, an original painting by Shirley Hansen, a scholarship offered by South West Florida modeling and talent agency, PGA Tour Superstore Players Club annual membership and lessons, and a gift certificate for a children’s party by family entertainer Walt Timoney.
Child models from pre-school through ‘tweens started the evening’s entertainment and teens also performed talent acts throughout the show. Guest Mary Kay Bernard said, “My mother-in-law was in tears for the first part of the show, laughing because the kids were so cute! That first girl who walked out brought a smile to your face and set the stage for the entire evening.”
Models showcased the latest fashions in clothing, jewelry, hair and make-up by A. Jaron Fine Jewelry, Angelrox, Brooks Brothers, Buckle, Cache’, D’Amici Salon & Spa, Francesca’s, Gap, Gigi’s Children’s Boutique, Impressions, Men’s Wearhouse, Ooh La La! Jewels Du Jour, the Paul Mitchell School-Ft. Myers, PGA Tour Superstore and Simply Natural.
This year student organizers awarded cash prizes to the top talent acts. Winning first place and $250 were sisters Alexa and Teressa Boyd. Second place and $100 in prize money went to Dezree’ MacDonough, Anne Bernard, and Caitlin Holland. The youngest performer, Samantha Toussaint, won third place and received $50.
Also new this year was K is for Kids’ first Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Award. Craig Bouchard presented the $500 award to videographer Nicholas Nolan, a senior at Barron Collier High School who had applied his skills and made the greatest impact on the teens’ community outreach programs and fashion show. The runner-up was Abby Tierney also from Barron Collier High School who received $100.
The evening’s proceeds, including books collected and the funds to buy new books, benefited K is for Kids’ Rising Readers program for Collier County students with a percentage going towards Barron Collier High’s Helping Hands for Prom. Students earned community service hours for participating in the event.
Presented by Signature Group Holdings and Arthrex, the “From the Heart” Teen Fashion Show is a student-run community project that fulfills K is for Kids’ mission of “building readers and leaders”. Event co-chairs Mario Chang and Patrick Clawson from Gulf Coast High, Nicholas Nolan from Barron Collier High, and Nedgie Paul from Palmetto Ridge High, along with communications chair Mary Moussa, an early admissions student at Edison State College, coordinated more than 100 models and volunteers from schools across Collier County and south Lee. University students served as advisors to the teen leaders, including fashion show founding co-chairs Ali Martin and Erin Clawson, and 2013 co-chair Marina Moussa.
The annual teen charity event is a partnership of K is for Kids Foundation and Barron Collier High, in collaboration with Collier County Public Schools. Kelly Wilson, business teacher, serves as education partner for the show alongside Karen Clawson, founder and executive director of K is for Kids. The show has broad community support with more than 50 businesses and organizations supporting the teens’ efforts. Top sponsors this year included Melissa and Craig Bouchard, Southwest Florida Modeling Agency, the Naples Daily News, Comcast, and ITZ Media Group/SWFL Charity TV. The night’s festivities were filmed by ITZ Media and videographer Jeff Ebner.
Additionally, students produced a Public Service Announcement promoting the event that aired on Comcast.
Guests also enjoyed cupcakes and brownies from Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology’s Culinary Department, and Mikkelsen’s Pastry Shop. Behind the scenes, hungry volunteers were not forgotten, treated to food by L’Appetito Pizza at dress rehearsal and California Pizza Kitchen after the event.
The fashion show is the teens’ signature event for K is for Kids’ “Bring a Book, Bring a Friend” for Children’s Literacy Month, celebrated throughout February. Student leaders will host the 6th Annual “Kids Celebrate Reading” Book Fair and Book Drive on Saturday, February 22nd from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The book fair will begin with a special salute to school librarians and will feature a lineup of guest authors and family fun activities that will appeal to all ages.
For more information visit www.kisforkids.org or call 239-596-KIDS (5437).
About K is for Kids Foundation
K is for Kids® is a unique student volunteer-based nonprofit organization with kids on both the giving and receiving ends of our mission building readers and leaders. The Foundation encourages literacy and a love of reading in children of all ages by enriching their libraries at school and at home. Teens serve as role models to children and help build the stepping-stones for strong readers – giving books, encouragement and recognition – while earning community service hours, boosting resumes and developing leadership and communication skills in a real world setting. Join the Foundation during its February “Bring a Book, Bring a Friend®” for Children’s Literacy Month when teens create “fun’raisers” to inspire kids to read more & dream more.