The director of the Center for Youth is hoping six days of events in Rochester this week will raise $350,000 dollars for programs to benefit homeless youth.
Elaine Spaull says the proceeds from Fashion Week will provide much-needed funding for the Center for Youth's crisis nursery, shelter, and street outreach programs for young people who have no real family support.
"It's not like the old days where somebody had a bad hair day and didn't want to follow instructions,” she said. “These are young people often left on their own trying to raise themselves. It's often a family torn apart either because of illness or an incarceration or mental health concern. Often it's the adults who have a hard time keeping things together, and the kids fall through the cracks."
The Center for Youth provides temporary housing for an average of 350 12 to 18-year olds each year in its 12-bed shelter.
Fashion Week starts on Tuesday and runs through Sunday, October 18. All events this year are happening at a 15,000 square foot tent at the site of the former Midtown Plaza on East Main Street.
"Think about what used to be in Midtown,” Spaull said. “Think about what used to be across the street at Sibley's. So here we are, recreating Fashion Week of Rochester on parcel 5, the former Midtown, with Forman's and Sibley's and Edwards and McCurdy's and all of those amazing, amazing former stores."
For tickets and more information, visitwww.fashionweekofrochester.org
