Friends of Advantage is prepared to make it work.

The first annual adDRESS a Need Designer’s Challenge and Top Model has local designers and models competing for a cause: to raise money to aid those affected by homelessness.

Tammy Dalton, communications and outreach coordinator for Athens Friends of Advantage — which is the non-profit which directly assists Advantage Behavioral Health Systems with funding in serving people with mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases to Barrow, Clarke and other counties in Northeast Georgia — always had the idea of someday including a designer’s challenge component to the organization’s annual dress sale.

Address A Need

“From day-one the idea was seeded to incorporate some sort of ‘Project Runway’-inspired competition,” she said. “We wanted to ‘go green’ with these dresses that were a little outdated. Now [three years later], we’re ready for it.”

Designers are responsible for reviving a donated party dress based on a theme.

“We know that the dress was something special for the original owner when it was purchased,” Dalton said. “Rather than say it’s no good, we want to re-birth it and make the donor proud. And these designers have such talent and they’re eager to jump in and allow their creative minds to go to work. [The competition] is a different way of involving people and getting them aware of our cause.”

Dalton and her team of interns immediately branched out to the University in search of designers, models and volunteers.

“We came to UGA first, through the family and consumer science department and the sororities, because it would be sad to not utilize what’s right here in front of us,” she said.

Alessa van Rossem, a senior and Friends of Advantage intern, has been handling the event’s PR.

“[My job] is to get the word out there about the event itself,” van Rossen said, “by recruiting sorority girls, going to my hometown and following through with the event. It’s for people who are interested in fashion, designing, modeling – it’s a way to get our voice out there and to be philanthropic.”

Stephanie Pittman, a senior and member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, has been working with the Friends of Advantage dress sale since its inception three years ago. When Dalton approached her about modeling, Pittman saw it as an opportunity to expand her service.

“This is one of my favorite philanthropies to help out with,” she said. “We have a lot of Gamma Sigma Sigma girls participating — they’ve been there from year one. In my hometown, a friend of mine redid his mom’s store. He had a grand re-opening, and I [modeled]. I would be more nervous if I hadn’t done that, but I’m not too worried. It’s for a great cause.”

Working alongside van Rossem and Pittman are other students, including the only duo made up of University students — designer Kaitlyn Randolph and her model, and Miss UGA, Shelby McLeod.

Tony Stringer, University director of donor relations and stewardship, opted to volunteer out of a love for the event’s inspiration.

“I’ve always been a fan of the show ‘Project Runway’ … I’m not an expert in fashion, but it’s a creative way to raise money,” Stringer said. “It was fun picking out the worst dresses — how often do you get to do something like that in your life?”

At the competition, 10 high school homecoming queens from the 10 counties served by Friends of Advantage programs will model a preview of dresses available for purchase at the annual dress sale. Proceeds from the sale will allow the team to provide a prom makeover for girls in need, in addition to “benefit services provided to those who are living in homelessness,” according to the group’s website.

The organization’s design competition, preview fashion show and dress sale is beneficial to all – where helping those in need provides multiple perks.

“There are so many dresses that will never be worn again and there are girls out there in need that want to go to prom,” Dalton said. “Why not donate that to help a girl in need? This is an event that has many layers that helps many people. If you want a tax deduction from donating, that’s there. If you want to buy a dress, you can.”

ADDRESS A NEED DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE & TOP MODEL
Where: Foundry Park Inn Ballroom
When: Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
Contact: friendsofadvantage.org

ADDRESS A NEED SALE
Where: Classic Center Cypress Room
When: March 2-3