Peer Leadership hosted Glam Day in the high school cafeteria in mid-March to raise funds for the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC) and Empowerment Day which will be held Sunday, April 8.

Glam Day offered makeovers to young girls from grades K-6 across the county. Spearheaded by Peer Leader committees set up by senior Amanda Reece, the event included a photograph booth, karaoke, hairstyling, manicures, coloring station, refreshments, goodie bags and more.

“The DASACC organization came to our peer class cause they wanted to have an event later on in the year and we wanted to fundraise for that event,” said Reece. “So, our peer class came up with the idea of having a little day for girls just so that they could feel good about themselves.”

The young ladies from grades K-6 appeared to have fun singing Moana songs, socializing with girls from different elementary schools and the older high school students.

“Just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, brings a smile to my face. They’re all so excited and having so much fun. It’s just amazing,” said Peer Leader Stephanie Veneziano.

Peer advisor Penny Giamoni, said that 40 girls were already pre-registered for the event and more families walked in and joined as the day went on.

“We raised over 600 dollars and we are buying gift cards from Walmart and Shoprite for the DASACC clients.”

Giamoni said Empowerment Day will be a health-related public education event sponsored by DASACC, local businesses and Warren Hills’ RADD, HOTT, and Peer Leadership teams.  Empowerment Day is scheduled for Sunday, April 8, in the high school cafeteria from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

One local business involved in both Glam Day and Empowerment Day is Sensations Spa of Washington.   Sensations will be donating gift cards for haircuts and styling services to DASACC’s clients.

According to Giamoni, Sensations Spa has played a special part in planning both events.

“Wendy [from Sensations] wanted to do something for the community and I said, ‘Why don’t we pair up?’” Giamoni explained. “We decided that we should also get DASACC involved to make a day where women feel more empowered. Just the idea that when you feel good about yourself and take care of yourself you get that extra boost of confidence and that’s why we set this up.”

DASACC’s Community Education Coordinator, Matt Hardy, said he hopes to improve public knowledge about the mission of DASACC at both Glam Day and Empowerment Day.

“We work to support victims and survivors of physical violence in a nonjudgmental, compassionate manner,” said Hardy.

“So often we blame people for being assaulted or being in abusive relationships,” said Hardy. “That is never the reality because no one ever asks to be sexually assaulted or end up in an abusive relationship. So essentially what DASACC is going to do with this money we raised will be turned into gift cards and we’ll be able to give these cards to our clients who need them.”