Salon Success Academies Students Triumph Over Tragedy

August ’10

Salon Success Academies students, faculty, family, and friends all joined forces to honor Iman Wahid, a student who was the victim of domestic violence, through a fashion show event that was held on August 15, 2010. The event raised over $4,000 for The House of Ruth.

Upland, CA – August 26, 2010 – Salon Success Academies is known for being a “people helping company” and that philosophy reaches past the employees, all the way down to the students and their families. When Iman Wahid, a mother of three and an esthetics student at Salon Success Academy in Upland, lost her life to a brutal act of domestic violence on May 25, 2010, her classmates and teachers quickly bonded together and began planning a way to honor her life and raise awareness of domestic violence. A fashion show fundraiser was held on August 15, 2010 in Iman’s honor.

“Our students were so willing to help us organize this event, we were able to put it all together in just a couple of months,” said Susan Turner, Vice President of Salon Success Academies. “This event was a way for us to honor Iman and gave students an outlet for their emotions.”

To prepare for the event, students raised money by selling food and holding small fundraisers at each campus. The staff got involved by holding a “Fill the Bucket” competition between the five campuses. The instructor at each campus whose bucket had the most donations was invited to create a style for the fashion show. Judy Paltridge was the overall winner of the staff competition – she raised $111 in her bucket!

The fashion show event gave students the chance to create their own styles too. Students worked in teams, creating hair and makeup styles that were modeled on the runway by classmates. The fashion show chronicled the fashion of the last 50 years, showcasing everything from the 1960’s to today. Students worked hard to incorporate elaborate costumes into their designs, creating showstopping styles that wowed the crowd.

In addition to the runway show, the event included raffles and a silent auction. Prizes were donated by local businesses, including restaurants, stores, tanning salons, golf courses, and amusement parks. Professional beauty products were also included in the prizes, with donations from companies like Biolage, Matrix, and Pivot Point.

“It was obvious that students, staff, and family members were all incredibly dedicated to putting this together. Our tickets sold out during the pre-sale – over 300 people were in attendance!”said Susan Turner.

Of course, one of the main goals of the event was to raise awareness of domestic violence and provide education and resources for the community. The House of Ruth, a shelter for women and children, was on hand to discuss the services that they offer and provide information to all of the event attendees. All of the proceeds from the fashion show and fundraising were donated to The House of Ruth. Over $4,000 was donated in Iman Wahid’s name.

“This event was a great success,” said Susan Turner. “We could not be happier with all of the hard work, and dedication we received from our students and staff. We treat everyone at Salon Success Academies like a family, and we truly supported each other like a family during this difficult time.”

To see photos from the fashion show, visit https://www.facebook.com/salonsuccessacademy

For more information about The House of Ruth, visit http://www.houseofruthinc.org/

About Salon Success Academies

Salon Success Academy offers five locations in California’s Inland Empire, in Redlands, Fontana, Upland, San Bernardino, and Corona. Our mission at SSA involves caring for every student as a member of our family, furnishing the chance to finish their educational objectives as affordably as possible. SSA incorporates first-hand, real-world practice of the principles of cosmetology, skin care, and nail artistry. The campus teams with members of the beauty industry to educate our graduates on the technical and customer service skills they need to succeed in their careers.