By Alicia Kelso

Spring is a time for renewal and vibrancy. It’s also a time for fashion, to break out the palette of clothes that lay dormant through the long, dark winter.

Spring seems like the perfect opportunity, then, to throw a fashion show.

The Violet Township Women’s League has been doing just that for the past 10 years. Its 11th annual Style Show and Luncheon begins at 11 a.m. April 17 at the Berwick Manor Restaurant and Party House (3250 Refugee Rd. in Columbus).

Although members get together every month for meetings, social gatherings and fundraising efforts, this is the league’s flagship event, according to Carol Yurt, who has been a league member for about seven years and serves as this year’s Style Show co-chair with member Susan Osborne.

The show has evolved throughout the past decade, according to Jan Powers, one of the league’s founding members.

“During the group’s first year, a situation arose in the community where a family suffered a tragedy and needed help. One of our members knew the family and asked if we could put forth an effort and collect money for them,” Powers says. “We wanted to do a fundraiser and, sort of at the spur of the moment, we came up with a fashion show. It has since changed and now has a clear focus and cause.”

That cause is providing scholarships for high school seniors. Specifically, proceeds from the event benefit the group’s Community Service Scholarship Fund.

Last year’s show brought in about $4,700, a number that has grown exponentially since its beginning. Initially, the league donated a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior in the Pickerington or Violet Township area.

Now, the league donates two scholarships a year. This year’s scholarships are worth $2,500 each. Recipients are recognized at the show, along with their families, and are chosen by a committee based on their grade point average and community service efforts.

“Our goal was to get up to the $2,500 and we did. If we make more, then it goes to the general fund that is used only for scholarships. This cause is important to us because it’s a great way to give back to the community, since we base our decision on which kids are into community service,” Yurt says. “Some of these kids get involved so much and it’s really awesome to see.”

Tickets to the show are $20, which covers overhead costs and food. Scholarship money is raised through a raffle giveaway at the show, which features various prizes donated by area businesses and members. These include gift certificates, baskets and artwork, among other items.

The league also creates a “Friendship Afghan,” which will be raffled off this year. Each member is invited to knit three or four rows of the afghan, which was started in mid-December.

“It’s a great way for all of us to do something special for the event,” Yurt says, adding that about 125 items appear in the raffle.

This year’s fashion show features men’s and women’s clothing from Stein Mart, located on Hamilton Road in Columbus.

“We chose Stein Mart because of the economy right now. They feature a lot of name brand labels at a discount and we just thought it was a good idea,” Yurt says.

The league hopes to sell about 300 tickets to this year’s event, and every one of the 75 or so members has a hand in making it a success.

“That’s the great part about this organization – we get together so much and try and do something special every month, whether it’s collecting appliances for families who start a new home, or collecting for the Blue Shoe Arts organization (a studio/gallery that works with artists with disabilities) or whatever else is needed,” Yurt says. “This event is a lot of work, but the whole group is so supportive and it’s a joy to work with them. It doesn’t seem like a chore.”

For tickets or more information about the Violet Township Women’s League’s Style Show and Luncheon, visit www.vtwl.org.  

Alicia Kelso is a contributing editor for Pickerington Magazine.