SALISBURY — It was a time to celebrate. That’s what Norma Honeycutt, executive director of Partners in Learning, said about their annual Just As I Am Fashion Show. This fundraising event, which was held Sept. 4 at Partners in Learning, 1775 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Salisbury, featured a fashion show with some of the children they serve and staff or parents as models, along with a silent auction, family testimony and a social time with food prepared by the facility’s culinary department.
This was the center’s second annual event at this facility, said Honeycutt, but their 9th annual show overall. “it’s really a celebration of children with special needs,” Honeycutt said. “We don’t celebrate them enough and the inclusion.” She stressed the fact that they are all about inclusion and the children are “embedded in all of our programs, all of our classrooms. The dream is you don’t see them as different, you just see them as your friends.”
This evening helps to highlight this fact, said Honeycutt, the fashion show, which includes the children and their buddies, and it provides an opportunity for the parents to celebrate as well. Partners in Learning staff and event committee members greeted guests as they arrived. These included Heather Fidler, director of the Partners in Learning Woods location; Salisha Atkins, human resources director; Erika Garmon, curriculum coordinator; and Kimmy Cruz, committee member. The first such event for Cruz and Atkins, Cruz said it was a beautiful way to showcase diversity and promote inclusion among the children, and Atkins thought the event is unique in this space.
Before the show started, attendees took this chance to get food and bid on the various items on display for the silent auction. Cheryl Linder, who had previously worked in the kitchen at Partners in Learning, was making her way through the auction area and said she came to support them. “It’s all about the kids,” she said, noting that it is a great place. Also checking out auction items were Denise Heinke and Amy Brown. Heinke said this was her first year attending the center’s show and fundraiser. “I’m super excited to be here and support one of the most amazing agencies locally that does so much for children and their families and we’re just really happy to be a part of this,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the kiddos walking down the aisle.” Brown said they would be clapping and cheering for the children. “They deserve all of the love.”
Welcoming everyone, Honeycutt said, “we have some fabulous little models,” before introducing Jonathan Wallace, who served as the show’s emcee. Wallace first recognized all of the sponsors who helped to make the event possible, and then said, “let’s meet the stars of the show” and proceeded to announce the models and those accompanying them as they walked the runway. As they made their way on stage, Wallace shared information about each model, how Partners in Learning is supporting them, their special interests, and provided a description of the clothes they were modeling, which were provided by several area stores for the show. This gave the participants time to make several trips up and down the runway, smiling, waving and touching the hearts of the crowd as was evident by the oohs and ahhs, cheers, big smiles and waves. Taking to the stage first was Emmy Barringer joined by Kay Burney, followed by siblings Zeke and Zoya Smith, escorted out by Clinical Services Director Cassie Karriker and then dad joined them on stage and took them down the runway. Next up was Marco Marino, along with Nene Gallishaw, his registered behavior technician, after which came Gus Seabright and his mother, Nikki Seabright. Coming up next was Willow Gray joined by her mother, Chloe Gray, followed by twins Arlo and Webb and sister Cosby Spencer who came onstage. The next set of models to come forward were Magnolia Faye Clark and Malia Selke, her registered behavior technician. They were followed on the stage by Austin Williams who was joined by Caleb Reed. Siblings, Nolan, Chloe, Caralena and Mary Alivia Vedeikis raced their way up and down the runway multiple times with big smiles on their faces, and rounding out the show were little models Kynlee Howie and Alenaya Ramos.
As the fashion portion concluded, Wallace introduced Heather, Jim and Aubrey Amaral family, who shared their story and the care their little girl has received from Partners in Learning and the incredible progress she continues to make. Heather said they learned of Honeycutt through a co-worker and were able to get her enrolled which, she said, “was an absolute God-send.” Jim said he went to the center’s Catawba location and “they embraced us. They were just genuine. Genuine folks that wanted to help.” Services were provided for Aubrey immediately Heather said, “and every class she has transitioned to has been the right thing.” Jim added that “doing what’s best just seems to be the model here,” as he said they have been there for all of them, checking on them and going out of their way to make sure Aubrey’s needs are met. “Y’all love our girl, y’all believe in our girl and were willing to walk through the journey,” he concluded. Glenwood Oats Jr., board treasurer, added his thanks, telling them they could have been elsewhere but they “were here witnessing the impact of Partners in Learning firsthand.” He said those amazing models had stolen the show, but added that behind those smiles and milestones, there’s a whole lot of work, care and cost, stressing that high quality care, therapy and support, while life changing, are expensive and many can’t afford the level of care their children may need, which, he said, “is where Partners in Learning steps in. We don’t just do average, we do excellence,” but that excellence, he said, comes with a price tag and asked for their help to keep this going. Oats said Partners in Learning has been a part of the community for 29 years. “That’s nearly three decades of changing lives, one child at a time,” he said. Celia Jarrett, daughter of Dr. Shirley P. Ritchie, shared some history, telling it was in the late 1990s that her mother taught at Catawba College and when the state began the birth to five bachelor’s program. She wanted the local college to have this program knowing her students would need to do a practicum but realized there wasn’t a model childcare center.
Therefore, Partners in Learning Childcare Center was built on the Catawba campus with a mission to be inclusive for children with diverse needs, typical children and children of all financial means, said Jarrett. “This is what it has grown into today,” she said. “We’ve been here only two years in this new facility and because we grew the facility, we also grew our clinical services,” pointing out the various services available and the fact that the clinical services are right beside the childcare side, making it easier for those attending the childcare to have their clinical services met during the day. When asked what she thought her mom would be thinking about all this, Jarrett said, “she would be so proud of the staff” adding that they are the ones serving the children and her mom always wanted to lift them up. “Working at Partners in Learning is not a job, it’s a lifelong mission,” said Jarrett, and her mom would “be proud of the staff and of Norma who has carried her dream into fruition.” She said her mom had partnered with a lot of individuals in the community, but it “her dream and drive that got it started, and Norma that has carried it out.” Concluding remarks were made by Katelin Rice, who served as chair of the event committee, and was quick to say it was teamwork that put the event together, thanking her team, board members, volunteers and parents. “There is so much love in this room,” said Rice, something she sees everyday as she walks through the door. Parents have told her how Partners has changed their lives and they could not have made it through without them and thanked again for the support. “If we can take anything home tonight,” said Rice, “I hope it’s that with support and courage and confidence, we can be supermodels.”