Pair organize model fundraiser

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. - High Profile volunteer story on the Fashion Event fundraiser to be held May 15 at the Marriott in Little Rock. The event is a fundraiser for the Easter Seals of Arkansas and a silent auction event and includes a fashion show with Easter Seals clients modeling the clothes. LeAnn (cq) Wolf (left) and Jacquelyn Harrison are the co-chairs of the fundraiser.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. - High Profile volunteer story on the Fashion Event fundraiser to be held May 15 at the Marriott in Little Rock. The event is a fundraiser for the Easter Seals of Arkansas and a silent auction event and includes a fashion show with Easter Seals clients modeling the clothes. LeAnn (cq) Wolf (left) and Jacquelyn Harrison are the co-chairs of the fundraiser.

Want to make a bold statement? Support those organizations whose whole mission is helping others. Want to model? Model behavior like LeAnn Wolf's and Jacquelyn Harrison's, co-chairmen of Easter Seals Arkansas' The Fashion Event. Giving to others should never go out of style.

"Last year's event drew 500 attendees and raised $115,000 and that's our goal again for this year," says Wolf, who was last year's chairman, too.

The money raised is added to the nonprofit organization's general budget, where it is used for programs and services for people with disabilities and special needs.

The Fashion Event is set for May 15 at the Little Rock Marriott downtown. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and tickets are $50 for general admission, $100 for reserved seating.

The eighth annual fundraiser, which includes a runway fashion show, features professional models and 26 Easter Seals clients, ages 3 and up, also modeling the latest styles from a wide array of children's, women's and men's clothing stores in Little Rock.

"Fashion, to me, is a way to express your individuality or personal style," Harrison says. "Which is what is so much fun about The Fashion Event -- seeing the Easter Seals models display their individuality while showcasing ... fashion trends that are available to purchase at the local boutiques and stores participating in the show."

In addition to the runway, the soiree will also feature a cash bar, heavy appetizers and silent and live auctions. Live auction items include a "Closet Full of Clothes" featuring a collection of outfits/gift cards from some of the retailers participating in the show such as Barbara/Jean, Beehive, Beyond Cotton II, Dillard's, E. Leigh's, Scarlet, Steamroller Blues and Vesta's. Morning radio personality David Bazzel of KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz, will be master of ceremonies while the band Boom Kinetic will provide music.

Wolf, 37, and a native of Sheridan, received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She worked for about five years as a nurse with the kidney transplant team at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock.

She then moved into pharmaceutical sales, working with Pfizer for about 10 years. She launched her own business, Mind Over Matter, through which she helps clients organize their residences or businesses.

She has been married to Russell Wolf for the past 11 years and the couple have two children: Cruz, 6, and Beckham, 4.

Harrison, 28, is a Little Rock native who has been married to Brian Harrison for four years. The couple have a 4-month-old son, Holt.

Wolf began serving on The Fashion Event's committee about four years ago. She co-chaired the event in 2013 with Rachel Harding, and then did it solo last year.

"My friend Jeanne Johansson was on The Fashion Event several years and got me involved as a committee member," Wolf explains.

High fashion features hues of black or white with a classic clean line, she says, adding that the event this year is a chance to see for herself what's new for spring and summer.

"After having worked so closely with Easter Seals for many years, I have had the opportunity to see how the therapy they provide can significantly change the quality of one's life," Wolf says. "I've watched people walk that were never supposed to walk again at Easter Seals; that's enough for me to give my all to raise money for this amazing organization."

The co-chairmen are assisted by Sarah Pollack, an employee at Easter Seals Arkansas.

Next year, Harrison will take over the reins as chairman of the event.

After receiving her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Harrison attended University of Arkansas School of Law, graduating with honors in 2012. She works with Munson, Rowlett, Moore, Boone law firm in Little Rock.

It was Harding who brought Harrison into the fold, in 2013.

"I was inspired by the Easter Seals models during the fashion show, and how the event is truly focused on [them] ... as they strut down the runway," Harrison says.

"Also the services provided by Easter Seals start shortly after the time of birth and go through adulthood, which includes services such as their infant monitoring program, preschool, outpatient therapy, adult training and adult living centers," she says.

All the money raised at The Fashion Event remains here and goes for local services, Harrison says.

She and Wolf are also Easter Seals "Guardians," "a group of young professionals who raise money with smaller, quicker turnaround events," such as Easter Seals Arkansas' Art & Soul, she says. The two also volunteer at First United Methodist Church's Child Development Center, serving on the day care center's Hearts and Hands committee.

For more information or to buy tickets to The Fashion Event, call (501) 227-3706 or visit eastersealsar.com online. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

High Profile on 04/26/2015

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