- April 23, 2024
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Julie Pellegrino enjoys the runway walk while wearing a dress from Raisa's Place. Photo by Paige Wilson
Back at School members Margaret D'Elia, Hope Bodin, Karissa Jackson, Isabella Miller and Christina Courson pose before the show. Photo by Paige Wilson
Keynote speaker Cornelia Downing Manfre speaks to the crowd as a parent of an international CmPS Grand Champion. Photo by Paige Wilson
Arthur Murray dancers Steve Verrier, as John Travolta, dips Torrie Bembry during a performance. Photo by Paige Wilson
Back at School members Hope Bodin, Karissa Jackson, Isabella Miller, Margaret D'Elia and Christina Courson explain their project to the "sharks" of "Shark Tank" during one of the scenes. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen plays the role of Mark Cuban in the "Shark Tank" scene of the evening. Photo by Paige Wilson
Margaret D'Elia dresses for the Hitchhike scene, in regard to Back at School's upcoming trek to the state competition in Orlando. Photo by Paige Wilson
School Board member Maria Barbosa sports a dress from Raisa's Place for the fashion show. Photo by Paige Wilson
Angela DiBuono performs as Lady Gaga. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sophia Burton walks down the runway wearing clothing designed by Raisa's Place. Photo by Paige Wilson
Angela DiBuono, as Lady Gaga, leads the problem solvers into the room. Photo by Paige Wilson
Hope Bodin dresses for the Hitchhike scene, in regard to Back at School's upcoming trek to the state competition in Orlando. Photo by Paige Wilson
Isabella Miller dresses for the Hitchhike scene, in regard to Back at School's upcoming trek to the state competition in Orlando. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly dresses as Sheriff Walt Longmire of the "Walt Longmire Mysteries" series. Photo courtesy of Pastor Jearlyn Dennie
A fashion show and celebrity impersonation performances entertained the crowd in the Atlantic Ballroom at Hammock Beach Resort on Sunday, March 18, for an inaugural fundraiser to support a Community Problem Solvers team called Back at School.
The five Indian Trails Middle School eighth-graders in Back at School are on a mission to give adults in the community who don’t have post-secondary education the help, encouragement and opportunities they need to better their lives.
Isabella Miller, Christina Courson, Karissa Jackson, Hope Bodin and Margaret D’Elia came together to host the fashion show with custom designs from Raisa’s Place, located on 4601 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell for guest models to showcase on the runway.
“We’re also trying to help them maybe get into eight-week programs to get a technical certification or anything that can help them boost their salary to help them support their family,” Courson said.
Four of the members have parents who have gone back to school or are currently continuing their education, which inspired the creation of the project.
Jackson’s father is now a teacher at Indian Trails Middle School after earning his degree later in life, while her mother was already an assistant principal at Bunnell Elementary.
D’Elia said her mother recently earned her college degree at age 40, while her father is working toward his now.
“I can tell you my life got much better then,” D’Elia said.
Courson, whose mother Pastor Jearlyn Dennie coached the team, said her father also went back to school to continue his education.
“I just really wanted to help people in our community who wanted to improve their lives,” Miller said.
With the support of local sponsors, including Hogan Insurance, The Mullins Companies, Superwash Express, Gifts of Love, Flagler Chamber of Commerce and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the night raised a gross earning of $10,000, not including $7,000 in discounted services received for the event itself, Dennie said.
“One of the things people asked about the formal location at the resort. “I wanted people to realize how serious we are. We needed serious money, so we had it at a highly esteemed place.”
The earnings will go toward competition expenses for the students to attend the FPS/CmPS state competition in Orlando next week, as well as to establish a yearly scholarship program benefiting an adult student who will attend Daytona State College and an adult student continuing their education at Flagler Technical Institute.
Dennie said she plans to continue the fashion show as an annual event with different FPS/ CmPS groups in the coming years.
