BARBARA BATES DESIGNS
PRESENTS NEW 2009
FASHIONS SHOW BENEFITING
THE BARBARA BATES FOUNDATION June 2008 -
Chicago-based Fashion Designer Barbara Bates will host her Annual Fashion Show on Thursday, June 21st. The event will be held at the new Regal Theater (1665 E. 79th Street - Chicago) from 6:00pm-10:00 pm. Bates, a dynamic leader in the fashion industry and business woman began her career in fashion in 1986. Since its inception, Bates Designs has and still dresses some of the worlds'most fashionable and influential figures. Bates Designs have been worn by such celebrities as Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Harvey, Whitney Houston, and many more. She is known in Chicago and across the nation as one of the premiere designers of our time.
She has been a leader in creating style for celebrities as well as the everyday man and woman. The look of Bates is a signature look that stands the test of time. Establishing Bates Designs in 1986, she has experienced continued growth, constructing garments that have helped to build a successful business. Each garment requires hard work sparked with creativity, and attention to detail that is unwavering with a clear vision of what people want.
THE EVENT Barbara will showcase her newest 2009 collection with a show that will awe the audience with customized clothes that will showcase unique use of fabrics. Live runway music will be provided by legendary DJ Gene Hunt. Each year Barbara donates money raised from her annual fashion show to The Barbara Bates Foundation. The Barbara Bates Foundation was foundedin 1999 by Barbara.
The Foundation was created after publicity generated that year when Bates spoke at a local alternative highschool and promised free prom dresses for those girls who reached their goal of "graduating against the odds." After reading publicity generated from that speech, a local business executive with the Kraft Corporation made a $1,000 donation to enhance the efforts by the designer and the Barbara Bates Foundation was officially born.
That year, Bates donated 14 specially designed gownsto those young women with challenging situations. Since then, the Foundation has grown to also include formal wear for deserving highschool males. Each year Bates makes customized dresses for these students who could not even dream about attending their high school prom because of financial reasons.
The Barbara Bates Foundation strives to uplift the spirits and attitudes of Chicago's disadvantaged inner-city teens living in poverty. Since its inception, the Foundation has discovered that the donation of a designer gown or tuxedo can go a long way towards encouraging teens to want to "really be somebody" and set goals for themselves. Upon graduation, 80% of our students go on to further their education at two and four college institutions.
The Foundation's long-range goals include funding scholarships,job-training programs, self-esteem enhancement, and youth empowerment workshops for young adults. The Foundation has very ambitious goals for this segment of Chicago's population that have been forgotten. The Barbara Bates Foundation seeks to empower under privileged teens torise above their circumstances and become successful individuals in whatever fields they choose.
Tickets are $50.00 and for more information on Barbara Bates and Bates Designs visit www.batesdesigns.com.
For more media information contact Dionne Williams at D. Williams PR Group (708) 388-6730 or dwilliamspr@gmail.com
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