FRANCONIA &mdash It started out as just a small event, two Souderton Area High School juniors with a few friends and family members raising
money for a good cause, but it has already grown into much more. “We didn’t really know what we were getting into, but this has definitely been a lot more work than we thought it would be,” said junior Alanna Messner. Nevertheless, Alanna and her friend Thuy Tien (Anna) Vo are seeing everything come together, for a fundraiser fashion show, silent auction and concert they’ve spent most of the school year putting together. “So far I’ve sent out e-mail invitations to all of my teachers at Souderton, and we’ve put up flyers all over the school and in each of the local businesses that have given us things,” Vo said. As of Thursday afternoon, they’d had everything from jewelry and pottery to gift certificates, food and floral arrangements donated by local businesses from Lansdale to Lederach and Skippack to Perkasie looking to help out. Everything will be auctioned off at the charity fashion show they’ll put on at the Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club on the evening of Friday, May 29. More than two dozen local businesses have donated door prizes including gift certificates and baskets, and nearly a dozen clothing outlets have offered outfits for the models to wear … plus six pizza places plan to bring plenty of pizza for everyone. Proceeds from ticket sales and auction of the items will be donated to Laurel House, the county’s domestic abuse women’s shelter. “I did a project with Laurel House back in seventh grade, because at the time I knew someone who worked with them. That person has since moved away, but they do such a great thing, helping out abused women, that we just thought we’d really like to help them out,” said Messner. That evening, high school and professional models will show off clothing from 7 to 9 p.m., and those participating will have their hair and makeup professionally done beforehand. Guests will have a chance to mix and mingle all evening while listening to local bands including Rivers Monroe, who have featured Alanna in a music video. “We started harassing businesses in February, things started coming in to us in March, and by the middle of April we started to realize, ‘Wait a minute, we actually have a lot of stuff coming in,'” Messner said. They’ve even set up an e-mail address, where people can contact the pair to make donations, goods or monetary. “We went all the way up to Perkasie the other day to get one bracelet, and people are also volunteering ideas, not just things. With this economy, we just couldn’t believe how many people want to help us and help Laurel House,” Vo said. They originally expected a turnout of only 50 or 60 people, but have sold more than a hundred tickets, and say they’re rapidly approaching the Boys & Girls Club’s maximum capacity of about 200 people. Tickets for adults will cost $7, for seniors are $5, for children under 12 are $3 and anybody under 3 years old can come in free, but the two would like any ticket purchases to be done via e-mail so they can keep an eye on the headcount. They also didn’t plan on using the concert as their state required senior year graduation project, but said the idea of making the concert an annual event is looking better and better. “I’d like to say it’ll keep going on every year, but next year’s our senior year and then both of us will be at college,” Messner said. What if, by then, two other hard working juniors will want to keep the show going “That would be awesome we definitely hope that happens,” said Vo. You must be logged in to post a comment. Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts! Note: Fields marked with an asterisk () are required! (children under 13 cannot register) Don’t most events in our lives happen by chance As a journalist, I hope to share with you the chance observations and experiences and experiences of my travels. And I offer a chance for you to comment as well. Photography, notes, commentary and much more from Reporter online editor Chris Stanley.
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