For their senior project at Souderton Area High School, Anna Vo and Alanna Messner decided to have fun while raising money for Laurel House at the same time. The two friends organized a Charity Fashion Show that raised more than $2,000 for Laurel House's anti-domestic violence programs and services. Anna and Alanna, you are an example to young women in your community. Thank you for dedicating your time and talents to increasing awareness and education about domestic abuse and teen dating violence. You're an inspiration to us all! In case you missed the original article, take a moment to read the story below by Bob Keeler, Staff Writer for the Souderton Independent.By Bob Keeler, Staff Writer
Everybody knows times are tough, but two Souderton Area High School juniors working on a charity fundraiser for their senior project say that hasn’t stopped donations from businesses and people willing to help out.
“We’ve been really excited with the support we got from the community,” said Alanna Messner, of Franconia, who with Thuytien “Anna” Vo, of Harleysville, is putting on a fashion show and concert 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Indian Valley Boys & Girls Club on Washington Avenue in Souderton.
Proceeds will benefit the anti-domestic violence and shelter programs of Laurel House.
“We picked Laurel House because as young, teenage girls, we can kind of relate to the growing problem of domestic violence in our community,” Messner said. “And it’s a local event, which I think is pretty cool because it’s giving back to pretty much just our community.”
The theme for the fashion show will be spring fling.
“A bunch of the clothing that the models will be wearing will be bridal gowns or bridesmaid’s dresses, formal attire, and the males would be wearing tuxedos,” Vo said.“Plus, we’ll have a lot of casual stuff, just kind of trendy new things for the summer,” Messner said.
Both students are building onto past experiences in putting together their senior project.
Connections made in those experiences are also helping bring in donations and volunteer help.
“I’m familiar with a lot of the bridal places because I help run the fashion show for the high school,” Vo said.
The fashion show, in which Vo was both a model and an events planner this year, is held annually at the school to show prom-wear styles.
Messner, who has more extensive modeling experience, also appeared in a music video by Rivers Monroe, which will be performing at the fundraiser.
Rivers Monroe videos, including the one in which Messner portrayed the female lead in a relationship that was ending, as well as other information about the group, can be seen at
www.myspace.com/RiversMonroe.
“In addition to the concert, we also have a tattoo artist. We have a lot of professional models coming in,” Messner said. “We have food that was donated by local pizzerias.”
“It’s just a fun family night out,” Vo said.
Other students from the high school have also volunteered to help out. The fundraiser also will include a raffle and silent auction.
Along with doing the show as a senior project, Messner expects to use it for an entrance project to her subsequent educational step after next year’s graduation from Souderton. She plans to study international trade and marketing for the fashion industry at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Vo, who plans to major in biology at the University of Pittsburgh, might not be directly using the events planning experience in that, but she also has another reason for choosing to do the fundraiser as her senior project.
“I do what I can to give back to the community,” Vo said.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children younger than 12. Tickets will be available at the door, but purchasing in advance will help in the planning. Tickets or information are available by e-mailing
charityfashionconcert@yahoo.com or by calling 215-880-2775.
The two students have been working hard on the project since January, Messner said.
People who know about Laurel House and its programs have been especially supportive.
“I feel like a lot of people that know the organization are more than willing to help,” Messner said.
In addition to raising money for the organization, the fashion show and concert can help bring awareness about the Laurel House programs, she said.
The successful work already done to prepare for an event of this size is inspiring, Messner said, but there’s still work to be done in the final month to make sure people know about and come out to the show.
“We’re just working right now on getting it promoted and getting the word out there because, of course, the more people we have, the more of a success it’ll be, and the more money that’ll be raised,” Messner said.
See photos from the event
here.
At Laurel House, we're grateful to have so many teens and tweens who volunteer and organize projects (such as cell phone collection drives and special events) to support our families. We're proud of them for helping in our efforts in their community and for taking a stand to end domestic abuse. 
