Barrington High School students planning Sunday’s 5th annual Hope’s in Style Fashion Show aim to raise $75,000 to build ten more homes in Guatemala City this summer. Featuring student stylists and models, the March 12th event could help volunteers raise enough funds to bring the total number of homes built by Hope’s In to thirty-two in the past five years. To help them reach their goal, we’re highlighting Hope’s In as our featured nonprofit of the month for March here at 365Barrington.com.
In addition to raising funds, Hope’s In Style Fashion Show organizers aim to raise awareness about families living in Guatemala City’s garbage dump communities. Hope’s In student volunteers will be heading to Guatemala City for two service trips this summer to build homes which each cost $7,500.
Here are some of the sobering facts and figures motivating these young volunteers to take action…
- 13,000 people live in the Guatemala City garbage dump communities.
- More than 50% are children.
- People living in the garbage dump communities face immense social, political, physical, and psychological challenges. Each community is plagued with physical, sexual and drug abuse.
- Fighting stray dogs for scraps of food in the garbage dump, parents clothe their children in outfits found in the trash.
Hope’s In actively works to bring a new future to those living in these communities by building homes, offering medical clinics, hosting day camps and inspiring others to help improve living conditions for these families.
Over the past five years Hope’s In volunteers have built 22 homes, traveled with over 250 volunteers on their summer trips, seen thousands of patients in their medical and eye clinics, and built meaningful relationships with so many families in Guatemala City. Co-founder and 2014 BHS graduate Courtney Quigley says generous donors and volunteers have made this all possible.
“Every summer when we travel to Guatemala City to work with our partner organization, Potters House Association, I find myself looking around at our team and the communities with tears in my eyes,” Courtney says. “Tears of heartbreak for the conditions and stories families share, joy for the resilience and love every community member promotes, and hope for what’s to come.”
Organized by a team of teen volunteers, Sunday’s runway will feature an all-student cast of stylists and models. The theme for the fashion show is “Picture This” which focuses on the strength and resilience that the people of the Garbage Dump Communities portray in their daily lives. The event will also have live and silent auctions, raffle, a photo booth, and snacks. The Live Auction items will include tickets to see the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and Cubs play.
The fashion show will also feature a panel of five judges from around the community including Gigi’s Playhouse Founder Nancy Gianni, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital President Karen Lambert, Honorable Paul Pavlus, BHS Football Coach Joe Sanchez, and Illinois State Representative Nick Sauer.
Fashion show chair and Hope’s In Intern Board member, Maggie Horak says she’s proud to be part of the planning. “I was on the trip last year and helped build a house and now I’m helping to raise funds for this year’s trip and the homes we will build,” Maggie says. “It’s going to be a great event and we’d love to have the community’s support.”
100% of the funds raised during the Hope’s In Style Fashion Show go toward building houses in Guatemala City and other projects they’re planning for this summer’s service trips.
The event will take place at The Stonegate Conference Centre (2401 W. Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates) from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 12th. Tickets cost $35 but you also have the option to make a larger donation toward funding a house. A select number of tickets will be available at the door.
Click here to purchase your tickets online today!
To learn more about how Hope’s In brings hope to families living in Guatemala City’s garbage dump communities and to find out how you can help, visit HopesIn.org.
Co-founded in 2012 by twin sisters, Ashley & Courtney Quigley during their junior year at Barrington High School, HOPE’S IN is dedicated to impacting and empowering the Guatemala City garbage dump communities and developing the next generation of humanitarian leaders. To-date, Hope’s In volunteers have built twenty-two safe homes and inspired 250 volunteers to travel to Guatemala to help bring hope to families living in poverty. Learn more about the mission at HopesIn.org.