Freshmen show fashion for charity

Instead of strutting up Kirkwood Avenue Feb. 28, freshmen Amy Chen and Samantha Loeffler will be strutting down the runway.

Chen and Loeffler are the founders of the “Strut For Smiles” campaign, a charity fashion show that benefits children born with either a cleft lip or cleft palates.

And whether the models are pouting or smiling on the runway, Chen and Loeffler said they want their efforts to leave everyone grinning.

“We wanted to integrate what we loved into a cause to help others,” Chen said. “It’s a cause people don’t know much about and look over.”

All proceeds from this event support Operation Smile, a not-for-profit that sponsors these children’s facial surgery.

A single surgery costs $240. Chen and Loeffler’s goal is to raise at least $5000. This would sponsor corrective surgery for about 20 children.

“It’s a cause not at the top of everyone’s head and is a little overlooked,” Loeffler said. “But it still needs support.”

Loeffler and Chen are members of Compass Fellowship at IU, a selective organization that challenges its members to develop creative solutions to real-world problems.

One night when Loeffler and Chen were walking downtown and discussing the Compass Fellowship, what cause they should benefit and what event they should throw, they saw streetlights shining on Kirkwood Avenue boutiques and mannequins posed in the window. The girls got the idea for a fashion show.

“The theme for the show is ‘The Corners of New York: From Brooklyn to the Hamptons,’” Chen said. “It’ll show spring versus street style, which is a bit edgier.”

Boutiques in and around Bloomington have been donating to the cause. Cactus Flower, Cha Cha Clothing Boutique and Macy’s at College Mall are just a few of the businesses involved.

In addition to donating clothing and supporting Operation Smiles, these businesses are also encouraging student involvement.
“We’ve gotten lots of majors involved in this,” Loeffler said. “It shows that if you want to do something, get involved on campus and you one hundred percent can.”

Tickets for the show are $10 and can be bought at www.strutforsmiles.com.