Photo Credit: Joy Asico
Domestic violence prevention nonprofit Becky’s Fund hosted its 8th annual “Walk This Way” charity fashion show at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in which I was honored to walk in the show that night. The charity fashion event featured clothing from classic upscale American designer Paul Stuart and women’s designer Alex Teih, worn by D.C.-area pro athletes, including Washington Redskins players Vernon Davis, Pierre Garçon, Chris Baker and Nick Sundberg, Washington Wizards stars Otto Porter Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ian Mahinmi, United States Women’s National Soccer team’s Ali Krieger and Crystal Dunn, D.C. United’s Bill Hamid and Marcelo Sarvas, former NFL stars Dhani Jones, Gary Clark, John Booty and Brandon Frye and former U.S. Olympian Giuseppe Lanzone. The female models were styled by One80 Salon and Kingsley Model and Management.
With the help of event chair Shivani Dhingra Bajaj and top sponsors White Star Investments, Jetlinx, Verizon, Michael and Son, Kampf Family Foundation, Strategic Cyber Ventures and more, "Walk This Way" raised more than $100,000 for the nonprofit’s “Men of Code” program. The initiative engages and educates coaches and young male athletes to become leaders and allies in the movement to end domestic violence. The proceeds from "Walk This Way” will allow Becky’s Fund to bring the program to three additional schools in 2017.
Attendees sipped specialty drinks and noshed on gourmet food by Rouge Catering, while mixing and mingling with some of the DMV’s favorite sports stars, performers, political power brokers, business leaders and fashion influencers. DJ Oz provided the tunes and set the mood for the fashion show. The evening continued with an after-party at Living Room.
"I founded Becky's Fund 10 years ago with the mission to end and prevent domestic violence through education and advocacy,” says Becky’s Fund founder Becky Lee. "I wanted to build an organization that breaks the cycle of violence through education and empowerment. Through lessons on positive masculine roles, violence prevention, and leadership, our Men of Code will learn what it means to have integrity both on and off the field and they are given the tools to take a stand against dating and domestic violence."
ABOUT BECKY’S FUND:
Becky’s Fund is a nonprofit organization committed to the prevention of domestic violence by creating awareness, encouraging advocacy among peers, promoting activism through outreach programs and providing support for victims. www.BeckysFund.org.