Goodwill Central Texas Brings The Fun & Sustainable Fashion Show To Its Annual Gala

Organization Dazzles With Crowd-Pleasing Program And Evening Of Giving

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Ben Porter Photography

THE SCENE: The Junior League of Austin was the recent setting for the annual Goodwill  Central Texas’ fantastic evening. Over 350 of the area’s top community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists were on hand for “A Good Night for Goodwill.” Benefiting Goodwill Central Texas, the night featured touching tributes, fashion, and fun, which resulted in a vibrant night for the organization.

THE VIBE: The crowd featured an elegant mix of traditional cocktail attire, bold colors, prints, and patterns, and designers clad in their fashion show creations, which created a festive and welcoming environment for the patrons who attended. The night kicked off in the foyer of the Junior League for a cocktail reception. As partygoers sipped on their favorite spirits, mingled, previewed, and bid on silent auction items curated from ShopGoodwill.com, they had the opportunity to commemorate the night with a custom personalized high-fashion sketch courtesy of fan-favorite caricaturists Vogue Vignette.

The action then headed to the Junior League of Austin Ballroom for the main program, emceed by the Emmy-winning host of CBS Austin This Morning, Allison Miller, who kept the festivities flowing briskly throughout the evening. The program started with the debut of the “Good Looks” fashion show. The show featured the pairing of 15 talented designers matched with models for an offering of sustainable looks that showcased how materials and textiles can be reused and given new life.

As revelers dined on multi-course meals, they were treated to words from organization and event leaders. Lee Cooke and Les Gage were honored with the annual Henna Award For Good for their leadership of the organization’s most recent capital campaign and completion of the Henna Education Center. The program also included a spirited paddles-up portion, which in addition to the silent auction items, netted the organization over $178,000. The crowd also celebrated three Goodwill program participants honored for their tenacity and success as Student of the Year, Achiever of the Year, and Team Member of the Year.

THE NON-PROFIT: A Goodnight for Goodwill raised nearly $300,000 for Goodwill Central Texas. Proceeds from the event will go toward The Bridge Fund, which offers stability and peace of mind to Goodwill students and program participants who face unexpected expenses.