With fashion, community, and empowerment in mind, Goodwill hosted its 14th annual Little Black Dress Signature Event at the Four Winds Event Center in South Bend on Wednesday, April 24. The event included a pop-up boutique, dinner, and a fashion show – all proceeds went toward Goodwill’s education, training, and job placement programs.
“Everybody knows us for our store, and we want the community to get to know us for our mission, which is to empower people to live their most abundant life,” said Debie Coble, President and CEO of Goodwill. “Tonight's event is to bring fashion and our mission together and talk about some of the great opportunities we have at Goodwill.”
The Michiana community arrived eager to shop Goodwill's finest offerings at the pop-up boutique. Multiple rooms were filled with an array of clothing, accessories, and footwear. There was something for every style and taste.
“We have 500 people here tonight, and it's great to have the community want to be involved in what we’re doing,” said Mark Ziegert Vice President of Retail Sales at Goodwill. “This event is a great chance for everybody to see what Goodwill is all about.”
Following the shopping spree, everyone gathered for a delicious dinner and an exciting fashion show. Models strutted down the runway with confidence, showcasing the curated looks of Goodwill Fashion Stylist Kerie Graham.
In addition to the fashion festivities, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about Goodwill's diverse range of programs, services and opportunities.
Goodwill is launching a new project in Elkhart and seeking community support to enhance the local area. “We're getting ready to launch fundraising for our new project in Elkhart. The opportunity hub is going to bring together our mission with the city's vision of bringing health care and revitalizing an area of Elkhart that’s in need,” Coble said. “It’s about a $5 million project, so we are reaching out to the community, asking them to invest in us.”
To learn more about Goodwill, visit goodwill-ni.org.
