By: Patricia Miralles  

Fashion for Kids’ Sake (FFKS) is an event hosted annually in the spring by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh in partnership with Carlow University’s undergraduate mentors.

On April 2, The Rosemary Heyl Theatre will be revamped into a runway to showcase and celebrate youth mentorship through an ensemble of styles modeled by this year’s mentors and mentees. The cast comprises of 15 Carlow mentors (“Bigs”) and 7 mentees (“Littles”) from K-12 schools in Allegheny. Together, the mentors and mentees will captivate the audience with their confidence and poise. One by one, they will be strutting in creative designs that follow different themes, trends from past decades, and much more.

In succession of this performance, the mentors also hand-picked a select number of their favorite Carlow professors to join the runway as models and express themselves in a uniquely different element. This always proves to be popular amongst Carlow undergraduates, especially those who once viewed these professors as their very own mentors.

Sherri Brunner, senior psychology major, started this journey four years ago. Now as an intern at Big Brother Big Sisters, Brunner is the president of the FFKS board and the head director of the FFKS event.

Senior English and liberal studies major Clarissa Moore is currently the administrative assistant of the FFKS board and oversees ticket distribution. From hosting numerous fundraisers to mentoring, the board carries out the preparations in a span of two semesters which start in the Fall. Moore states, “Usually the executive board is put in place around September. Then, we meet bi-weekly to assign roles, plan events, and mentor. Mentoring starts in January and takes place every Friday after school until the show date.”

Having worked as an expert stage crew in several Carlow dance shows and theatre productions, Moore “absolutely loves being behind the scenes for the fashion show,” Moore continues, “The mentors and mentees truly shine when in front of the crowd, and the bonds they forge during mentoring show how impactful FFKS really is.”

The 10th annual Fashion for Kids’ Sake event is on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 at 7 p.m. The Rosemary Heyl Theatre is located on the ground floor of Antonian Hall at Carlow University. The doors open at 6 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID and can be purchased on bbbspgh.org/ffks19 or from the Venmo app through Clarissa Moore @rissa0319. At the door, tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students with ID.