St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center will host its 47th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show on Saturday, Aug. 2, celebrating British fashion and culture while supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, with this year’s theme titled “London Calling.” The show promises to highlight the city’s influence on the fashion world – combining sophistication and bold street style.
The day’s program includes live music, shopping, a silent auction, and complimentary champagne during a pre-luncheon reception. Guests will also enjoy a full-course meal, surprise performances, a live auction, and the centerpiece fashion show featuring SMSC students on the runway.
“It is one of the best, there’s a lot of excitement about it,” said Debra Emerson, CEO of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. “Students get to go pick the clothes out with some of our staff and then they got to get to walk the runway sometimes with a family member or staff member, so they really get to experience something not everybody gets to do, walk a runway, so it helps build confidence and also show their abilities not their disabilities.”
Each year, the fashion show adopts a new theme and incorporates original student artwork. Emerson, who was born in London, said this year’s theme feels especially personal.
“For me this year, it’s kind of coming home,” she said. “It just kinda all fell together, and we’re really excited about the fashion and just all the special things that we will do at the fashion show.”
The event is a key fundraiser for the nonprofit, which serves more than 350 students ranging from young adults to seniors in their 80s. Programs include employment training, art, music, technology, and health and wellness services.
“We shortfall from the state funding about $2 million a year so this helps fill the gap as I say,” Emerson said. “It’s really an important event for us and also it brings us new friends and families that come to see what St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center does every day.”
This year’s event will honor longtime supporter Bev Ireland and will have Ginger Poutous as Honorary Chair. Robbin “Kulek” Lockie and John Lockie are serving as Host Chairs. The Guild Hotel and The Mansour Group are presenting sponsors. Ireland has contributed for years through floral installations and education at SMSC events.
To further support SMSC, a matching pledge of up to $65,000 has been made by donors June Rubin and Chris and Karen Ward. All donations received through Aug. 2 will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
“Donations help us fund just the daily activities we have here,” Emerson said. “Helps us pay for the gas we have for our vehicles, for the lunch program. We have a beautiful garden to maintain, and a special Olympic pool here, a computer lab, a kitchen, you name it, all that special funding helps keep those things going.”
General admission tickets are $225, and VIP tickets are $325. VIP packages include premium runway seating, preferred valet parking, and complimentary wine during the luncheon. Both ticket types include parking and a full-course meal.
Beyond event participation, Emerson encourages community involvement year-round. SMSC also hosts private events and accepts online donations. The center is located at 2119 East Madison Ave. in El Cajon.
“They say we’re one of the best kept secrets in East County,” Emerson said.
Looking ahead, Emerson hopes to expand the nonprofit’s impact.
“It’s a life program, it’s like a busy village here I always say, people coming and going,” she said. “We just hope to keep people really engaged and learning, I think it’s one of the best things that we could do for our students.”
Tickets and additional event details are available at www.hautewithheart.org.
