I love being a fashion designer, but even more than that I love sharing my gift to help other people. I was approached by the “Love Without Reason Foundation” to be a part of “SHINE! Fashion Show & Luncheon for Women and Girls of all Ages” on Saturday, April 18th, 2015. The event was at ICCM Theatre in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Proceeds from this fashion show were used to provide cost-free surgeries by highly specialized maxillofacial and craniofacial surgeons to children in developing countries born with craniofacial (head and face) deformities. The organization raises funds to cover the entire cost of the surgeries, surgeons, hospital facilities, medicines, and the cost of a room for the traveling families of these children. Over the past two years, Love Without Reason has traveled to remote India, completed over 200 surgeries there, and offered help with twenty nine medical and educational camps. They have also broadened the scope of their vision to include eradicating sex trafficking. They provide awareness programs to free sex slaves around the world.
This amazing US 501(C)3 foundation was born from the very personal family experience of Santhosh and Susan Mathews of Chattanooga, TN. Their son, Philip Mathews, was born with Goldenhar’s Syndrome. Philip was born with numerous birth defects including: cleft lip, cleft palate, absent right eye, absent right ear, small right jaw, absent corpus callosum, multiple ventricular septal defect, and severe scoliosis. As a result, he has undergone twenty-two surgeries since he was born. Ever since, he has been receiving years of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. This personal experience translated into a want to help other children who were born with similar and sometimes more serious birth defects in poor countries. In these countries, these children are often shunned from their families and left with no medical help or support. As a result, they have made it their mission to provide help to these children and provide them a better chance at life.
The day of the show was filled with inspirational speeches, food, fun, and fashion. The keynote speaker was Mandy Young. She gave an empowering speech about overcoming life’s obstacles. The fashion show included fashion from Banana Republic, Cotton + Twine, Bleu Door Boutique, Olive + Estelle, and my Victoria Wilmoth Couture as the headliner. We were also lucky enough to have Miss Chattanooga, USA – Jennifer Shaughnessy- model. The stylists from In the Buff prepared all the models for the runway! Here are some pictures from the event!
ICCM Theatre in Chattanooga, TN
The Mathews Family with keynote speaker Mandy Young
Learning about craniofacial surgeries from Susan Mathews
Getting ready for the show (aka steaming gowns)
Victoria Wilmoth Couture headlining the “Birds of Prey” collection
Victoria Wilmoth Couture models and Miss Chattanooga, USA
The finale of the entire line
Olivia Medley, the gorgeous Fashion Show Director for Shine!, talks about the incredible mission of “Love Without Reason.” She is also seen modeling two of my Victoria Wilmoth Couture gowns here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT0dgwUYeFE
Professional Photographs by Vic Vergara of Vergara Photography:
Website: http://www.vergara.photography/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vergara-Photography/251642198341145?fref=ts
Miss Chattanooga, USA, Jennifer Shaughnessy
It is an honor to help bridge the gap between fashion and helping to make a positive change in society. This show is for every child born with a craniofacial abnormality. You are valued and loved. Continue to SHINE!
For More Information on this Incredible Cause:
Love Without Reason, Inc
P.O. Box 21009
Chattanooga, TN 37424
Phone: (423) 605-7787
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.lovewithoutreason.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveWithoutReasonUSA
For More Information on Victoria Wilmoth Couture:
Email: [email protected]
Tags : bananarepublic, bleudoorboutique, cause, charity, chattanooga, cotton+twine, couture, craniofacial, fashion, Fashion for Women, fashionshow, gown, Haute couture, ICCMtheatre, jennifershaughnessy, lovewithoutreason, LWR, mandyyoung, misschattanooga, model, olive+estelle, oliviamedley, philipmathews, shine, surgery, Tennessee, victoriawilmothcouture
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