The Philanthropic Power of ‘Project Runway’
Tyler Butler | SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER
“Project Runway” is known for showcasing emerging designers and for pushing them to their limits to accomplish amazing things.
The show is infamous for its unconventional materials challenges and star-powered producers, judges and guests. What the public might not be aware of is the deep philanthropic roots that permeate throughout the show, its contestants, the challenges and its fans. One such fan brought the show to center stage at the Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) luncheon and stitched people together to provide awareness for a worthy cause.
Valley fashionista, professional model and relentless cause crusader Camerone Parker brought the fashion factory, otherwise known as “Project Runway,” to Phoenix as she served as the keynote speaker at the 2017 WAMS event. Camerone spoke eloquently of her struggle with multiple sclerosis, and how she coped with the difficult disease while still in the prime of her professional modeling career. Camerone has become synonymous in Arizona as a style affcionado and as an engaged, authentic volunteer and charity supporter. This all culminated into a fantastic opportunity to share her brave story while bringing her love and expertise of fashion through her “Project Runway” collection to the Valley of the Sun.
The show is infamous for its unconventional materials challenges and star-powered producers, judges and guests. What the public might not be aware of is the deep philanthropic roots that permeate throughout the show, its contestants, the challenges and its fans. One such fan brought the show to center stage at the Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) luncheon and stitched people together to provide awareness for a worthy cause.
Valley fashionista, professional model and relentless cause crusader Camerone Parker brought the fashion factory, otherwise known as “Project Runway,” to Phoenix as she served as the keynote speaker at the 2017 WAMS event. Camerone spoke eloquently of her struggle with multiple sclerosis, and how she coped with the difficult disease while still in the prime of her professional modeling career. Camerone has become synonymous in Arizona as a style affcionado and as an engaged, authentic volunteer and charity supporter. This all culminated into a fantastic opportunity to share her brave story while bringing her love and expertise of fashion through her “Project Runway” collection to the Valley of the Sun.
Peach Carr, a “Project Runway” season eight alum, was on hand to support her good friend and fellow charity crusader Camerone. She also introduced Phoenix to her giving spirit by donating a one-of-a- kind handbag for the MS Luncheon raffle. The item was naturally highly sought after by event guests, but more importantly shared her own core values of giving back. Peach has chosen to support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, The American Cancer Society and The Puppy Mill Project, in addition to MS. She serves her charities of choice by donating handbags that are designated each year specifically to aid fundraising efforts. Peach’s efforts as a public speaker bring big crowds and big results to those causes that she supports.
“If you leave this world without reaching out to help a total stranger, it is a life unfinished,” says Peach.
Peach is just one example of how the fashion and the power of “Project Runway” has translated into big results for causes
“If you leave this world without reaching out to help a total stranger, it is a life unfinished,” says Peach.
Peach is just one example of how the fashion and the power of “Project Runway” has translated into big results for causes
throughout the world. Other contestants, who Camerone has supported, have also moved forward after the show to use their newfound fame to help others. Kini Zamora aided Goodwill Hawaii and produced the fashion show on the opening night of the nonprofit’s event, Goodwill Goes GLAM! Korto Momolu shared her genius with the Cinderella Project by lending her designs for their fashion show. Michelle Lesniak traded needle and thread for gloves and a boxing arena for the event, called Honey Badgers and Cobras, which benefited Milwalukie’s Northwest Housing Alternatives, a nonprofit organization, providing safe and affordable homes to more than 2,500 Oregonians. And Tieler James Garsaud of “Project Runway Junior” is a huge advocate on anti-bullying and has lobbied hard for reform.
The show’s famous resident mentor Tim Gunn has pledged support to several causes he believes in as well. Tim is a massive supporter of PETA and narrated a video about rabbit fur farming in China. He called the treatment of animals used for fur as “egregiously irresponsible.” And Tim goes one step further in his philanthropic fervor in sharing his own deeply personal story about his suicide attempt when he was a teenager in a video for The Trevor Project. This organization is a leading national institution concentrated on crisis and suicide prevention e orts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Gunn has been vocal about his own homosexuality, writing in his book “Gunn’s Golden Rules” that he came to terms with it in his 20s.
The show’s famous resident mentor Tim Gunn has pledged support to several causes he believes in as well. Tim is a massive supporter of PETA and narrated a video about rabbit fur farming in China. He called the treatment of animals used for fur as “egregiously irresponsible.” And Tim goes one step further in his philanthropic fervor in sharing his own deeply personal story about his suicide attempt when he was a teenager in a video for The Trevor Project. This organization is a leading national institution concentrated on crisis and suicide prevention e orts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Gunn has been vocal about his own homosexuality, writing in his book “Gunn’s Golden Rules” that he came to terms with it in his 20s.
Not to be overlooked is Heidi Klum, the Emmy-award winning host and executive producer of the show who is putting her supermodel status to good charitable use. With an eye for both high fashion and women’s health issues, she also demonstrates a talent for combining the two. Heidi has made a habit of donating the dresses she has worn to assorted celebrity functions to charity. One of her garments went to the 27 Dresses auction bene tting the Lavender Trust breast cancer charity. Another gown went to the Red Dress Program, which she also modeled at a fundraiser for the charity whose mission is to raise awareness about heart disease in women.
It’s no wonder that the talent behind the hit show so often go on to sow community seeds for good since the DNA of the show itself has many roots in giving. There have been many episodes that have featured causes and even focused the challenges around raising funds for worthy charities. In the fifth cycle of Project Runway All Stars N:Philanthropy, a fashion line that is dedicated to donating its proceeds to pediatric cancer research, was showcased. In the episode the designers created fashion forward summer looks that were sophisticated with a bad-ass edge for the N:Phil girl. The challenge winner, Emily Payne, had her look reproduced and sold on their website where all of the pro ts went to cancer research.
On “Project Runway Junior” Peytie was able to support Lets Girls Learn and the Peace Corps with her winning backpack design. This collaboration helped adolescent girls around the world go to school and stay in school. Peytie said she was inspired by the goal of helping girls go to school worldwide and her design was sold at Lands’ End to raise funds. And the star of “Modern Family,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, introduced his foundation, Tie the Knot, via the show. Contestants were challenged to use the bowtie as a point of departure for their looks and were tasked with including at least one bowtie in their design. The proceeds raised from the winning garment supported marriage equality and this garment is also one that Camerone shared at the MS Luncheon.
On “Project Runway Junior” Peytie was able to support Lets Girls Learn and the Peace Corps with her winning backpack design. This collaboration helped adolescent girls around the world go to school and stay in school. Peytie said she was inspired by the goal of helping girls go to school worldwide and her design was sold at Lands’ End to raise funds. And the star of “Modern Family,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, introduced his foundation, Tie the Knot, via the show. Contestants were challenged to use the bowtie as a point of departure for their looks and were tasked with including at least one bowtie in their design. The proceeds raised from the winning garment supported marriage equality and this garment is also one that Camerone shared at the MS Luncheon.
Camerone’s display of her Project Runway collection was much more than a simple fashion exhibition. It was a demonstration of her involvement with the “Project Runway” series, which in itself has a rich legacy of giving back. Camerone’s “Project Runway” looks are doing more than providing interesting and beautiful garments to look at, they are also advocating for a more stylish, equal world and a better society through the stories they tell.
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