TORONTO — Fashion and philanthropy came together recently in celebration of the children of the Zareinu Educational Centre of Metropolitan Toronto.
Modelling the latest fashions, left photo, Nadine Joffe and Cory Bickof, right photo, Julia Slater. [Vito Amati photos]
Modelling the latest fashions, left photo, Nadine Joffe and Cory Bickof, right photo, Julia Slater. [Vito Amati photos]
TORONTO — Fashion and philanthropy came together recently in celebration of the
children of the Zareinu Educational Centre of Metropolitan Toronto.
Hundreds of people of all ages attended the seventh annual Zareinu Fashion Show, a fundraiser held at the Royal Ontario Museum on Nov. 16.
Models, Zareinu students and their family members walked the runway, while awareness was raised about the issues faced by children with special needs.
Zareinu is a world-renowned treatment centre and school that provides individualized therapies and special education to children with a wide range of physical and developmental challenges.
Zareinu’s staff delivers innovative therapeutic interventions and programs to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and other neurological and developmental impairments.
Produced by Erika Larva of Monarch Events together with Hala Event and Communication Inc., the event was hosted by fashion icon Jeanne Beker. It featured collections from Vintage Couture, Matooka, Ross Mayer and Shenkin West, among others.
Singer Michael Burgess entertained guests with a special performance during the show. The evening also gave Zareinu supporters, volunteers and parents a chance to share their personal stories with the audience.
“It is our goal to enhance the profile of the issues faced by families of children with special needs and to educate the community about the incredible work being done at Zareinu,” said Randy Spiegel, Zareinu’s executive director.
“We hope that people who need us will find us, and if they know others who need Zareinu, they will share the information and this will open the doors to them and their children.”
Eden Tamsout and his father YanivSpiegel said Zareinu relies heavily on donations, which makes the fashion show a critical fundraiser. The need is greater than ever, as the students require a bigger centre to facilitate their learning and development.
Stacy Markin, event co-chair alongside Renee Rosenzweig, revealed during the show that a building fund is in the works to provide the students with a new state-of-the-art facility.
“Zareinu currently doesn’t have the space needed to help everyone who wishes to attend the school. Therapies are being performed in the hallways. Classes are overflowing. It is time to give these children and the incredible Zareinu team the home they deserve.”
Markin said she was most excited about watching the Zareinu students take to the stage. “It’s very emotional and inspiring to see. Some children are carried, some have walkers. Some are very slow, but determined. There is no other event that demonstrates these children’s abilities and showcases inclusion like the Zareinu Fashion Show.”
Markin’s teenage daughter, Shayna Bracha, is a Zareinu student who has participated in the event for several years. Told by doctors as a child that she would probably never walk, Shayna amazed the audience as she graced the runway with little assistance.
“In those early difficult months of learning, my child had severe disabilities and a grim future. Zareinu was everything we could ask for,” Markin said. “We were told Shayna would never recognize me as her mother. We were told to put her in an institution. Today, Shayna definitely knows me and everyone dear to her. I am very indebted to Zareinu.”
