Betty Be Good Raises $10,000 for Human Trafficking Charity
Posted on October 16 2018
When 180 people care about a cause they fill the room with love. Betty’s fashion show fundraiser Liberty In Style was more exciting and uplifting than we could have ever imagined as we raised $10,000 for Engedi Refuge and celebrated the 5th anniversary of Betty Be Good at Birch Bay Square.
"The audience was lively and enthusiastic especially when 82 year old model Elizabeth walked down the runway. We heard from many attendees that the styles were so wearable. This show was quite different from the typical runway show where the clothes are unattainable," said Suzanne Smith, Betty Be Good Owner & benefit organizer.
Emcee Tara Teng, former Miss Canada 2011-2012, brought tears of joy and sorrow throughout the evening with her passion for the cause. "We are here united in a sisterhood for one cause. Don't you love it when women support and love on other women," Teng echoed through the room.
Tears continued from the audience as trafficking survivor Jill, now an Engedi Case Manager, joined Tara to share her story in a question and answer portion of the evening. Jill shared, "My trafficker used to tell me as he was beating me that he was tearing me down to build me up," she continued to explain about the courage it took to model in the fashion show that evening. It was an act of strength and courage.
Another highlight of the evening was when local fitness instructor Angela Biondolillo lead a team of dancers in a performance called Pound. This high energy drum stick workout was warmly received and pumped up the audience for an energetic evening. Biondolillo teaches Pound at the Birch Bay Recreation Center.
On final tally Liberty In Style raised $10,000 for Engedi Refuge which will fund their recovery programs including trauma counselling, case management, housing, and plenty of other support services to rehabilitate survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
"Human trafficking breaks my heart over and over again," said Smith. "But nights like this they mend it and give me hope that we can overcome this problem. We can give survivors hope again. Thank you for supporting the important work of Engedi."
To donate to the cause and learn more about Engedi Refuge visit www.engedirefuge.com.
Photo credits Jonathan Harbst Photography.
1 comment
How do I get on the mailing list for futures fund raisers??
Thank you