Fundraising Ideas

“A Day to Shine” Raises $30,000 for the
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

On March 29th 2008, teens at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas took a stand to raise awareness about teen dating abuse.  “A Day to Shine: Prom Fashions Morning to Night” is an annual, fashion show fundraiser, hosted by students and parents at Westlake High School, that benefits organizations working on local and national issues. This year’s fashion show raised $30,000 for loveisrespect.org, the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

“We decided to embrace the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline as the non-profit beneficiary for our fashion show because I believe this is one of those ‘silent’ issues,” said Julie Stevenson, Chair of the “A Day to Shine” Committee.”  “We don't want to talk about it, we don't even want to acknowledge that it exists for young people,” she said, “It is critical that we teach our teens that dating abuse does exist and that it can happen in their world. Sharing that message was the purpose of the Prom Fashion Show.”

Westlake High School’s student organizations Girls Engaged To Make A Difference (GET MAD) and Guys Exhibiting Needed Traits in Society (GENTS), were invited to act as the models for this fundraiser, both to show regular teens in prom fashions, and to indicate that teen dating abuse can touch the lives of all kinds of teens. The fashion show featured all high school models wearing prom fashions from Macy’s and Royal Tuxedo. 

The event was kicked off with a warm welcome from Julie Stevenson, on behalf of the “A Day to Shine” Committee.  Kristin Armstrong, freelance writer and contributing editor for Runner’s World, served as the fashion show’s Master of Ceremonies.  The event also featured Jaslene Gonzalez, winner of season eight of America’s Next Top Model and last year’s spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.  After the fashion show, Jaslene spoke about her own experience in an abusive relationship and encouraged teens in similar situations to reach out for help.

The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline would like to thank all of the event’s attendees and sponsors, and especially the students of GET MAD and GENTS at Westlake High School.  A special thank you goes to the “A Day to Shine” Committee, Carolyn Krawczyk, Meredith Landry, Kate McNair, and Julie Stevenson, without whom this special event could not have been such a great success!