Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love everything about it; the decor, the smell of cinnamon pinecones on display as we enter the grocery store, the fashion (OMG the fashion!), christmas lights, the smells emerging from my kitchen every night, and all the celebratory dinner parties with friends and family. Bigger though, I LOVE giving the perfect gift. Its like a shopping victory for me when I find something that is so perfectly suited for someone close to me. I get very caught up in all the lovely that is Christmastime. It’s so easy for me to focus on the shopping and cooking and fun and busyness and forget about those for whom Christmas is not a happy time. It’s so easy to live in my own little lovely world and enjoy my favorite season with little or no consideration for others and what they are going through.
As I sat down to begin the planning of my model Christmas party (way back in June, not kidding!), I knew that I wanted to celebrate with my models in a way that would somehow involve a world bigger than my inner circle. I wanted to give back somehow, to be generous, to work for a cause greater than simply celebrating the season together and in so doing, be intentional with at least one major event so that I can attempt to make an impact this season. I want to give a perfect gift. As a business owner, the most important part of every event I plan is my client, and as a true fashion lover and enthusiast, I aimed to plan an event that is both glamorous and fun, but that actually benefits an organization relevant to my models. That collaboration emerged when I was introduced to Annette (the owner and founder of the With Hope Foundation a teen suicide prevention non-profit) through a mutual friend, the owner of Betinni’s Boutique. A fashion show was the perfect event. We’d use my model team, Betinni’s Fashion, and we’d benefit the With Hope Foundation through donations and raffle and sales. Perfection.
In collaboration with Chadia at Betinnis Boutique in Brea, FLY Photography and the With Hope Foundation is excited to be hosting a Holiday Fashion Show featuring the 2014 FLY Model Team wearing the holiday fashion of Betinnis. Our event will be a truly fabulous and glamorous evening featuring live Christmas music from the HiFi Brass Trio, a selection of fun food trucks (partial proceeds benefitting the With Hope Foundation), shopping at Betinnis (with a portion of proceeds going directly to the With Hope Foundation), a fabulous silent auction (all profits going to With Hope), and of course an absolutely sensational fashion show featuring the 2014 FLY Models.
With Hope is an incredible foundation that strives to make a difference in the lives of teens. A nonprofit organization, With Hope is dedicated to suicide prevention through improving mental health support services and education in local schools as well as throughout the community it serves. In fact, many of the FLY models have heard about the With Hope Foundation through school visits! There are several different ways that you too, can make a difference this holiday season and give the perfect gift. Getting involved with our event and the With Hope Foundation is a truly wonderful thing to do in this season. For more information about sponsorship or donations for our raffle, please email me at jess@freethelovelyyou.com and I will be happy to get you connected. Of course your attendance at the event would also be lovely and mean the world to us, as well as to the FLY Models.
We are expecting several hundred guests for our event, and are so excited for December 8th. Come and support the With Hope Foundation, Betinni’s Boutique and the insanely gorgeous FLY models as they rock that runway!
By Jess Spinella