Unlike most fundraisers at Edina High School, an event hosted by the Edina Athletic Booster Club (EABC) takes a different approach to raise needed funds for the Edina Athletic Department. “Rock the Runway” is an upcoming fashion show for high school students, set in April. The EABC Chair of Fundraising is Kari Mawn, who will be heading the fashion show.

The Edina Athletic Department had major cuts this year totaling about $80,000. In order to make up for this loss and provide funding for the 33 sports teams at EHS, the “Rock the Runway” fashion show is a method of fundraising for the Athletic Department. “The main reason [for the show] is to just create a big, fun, community wide event. Because hopefully we can pull in art students and band. My goal is to just make it a super fun night that everybody wants to come to. Just a fun memory!” Mawn said when asked about the incentive behind the event.

The models in the fashion show will be EHS athletes, and anyone who would like to participate will be given the chance. “We’re hoping to get 75 models, right now we have about 18. If we got above 75, that would be a great problem to have! This first year, we’re gonna just give it a chance,” Mawn said, laughing.

Models will get a t-shirt, food, and guided practice for the event. Most importantly, they will be giving back to their sports teams and community in a positive and important way. Outfits will be designed and contributed by local retailers as well.

In addition to the fashion show, there will be a silent auction. Themed baskets contributed by each team will be the main feature of the auction.  

“33 team baskets will be presented. And then we’ll reach out to the general community for typical sponsorships like gym memberships…there will be generic community events,” Mawn said.

Local retailers and businesses are contributing to the show, and models are EHS athletes, making this a full-fledged community event. “It’s truly entertainment. Fun music, and even fun skits in between. So it’s more of an entertainment show than a fashion show, but there is a runway and a silent auction, so that’s how we’re going to make the money,” Mawn said to sum up the goal of the event.

More information can be found at ehsfashionshow.com.