STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

You won’t have to walk the runway. But show up in funky fashion at the second annual Funky Fashion Show and Fundraiser and you will be eligible for prizes.

Organizers are even making it easy for you, offering a Pop-Up Shop from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Limelight Hotel the day of the May 1 show. You can purchase funky fashion there for a nominal donation, or you can find plenty of fun, colorful outfits at local second-hand stores.

The Funky Fashion Show will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday May 1, at Ketchum’s Limelight Hotel. It will include a short presentation by Sally Gillespie of the Spur Foundation. One-of-a-kind fashion designs will be auctioned off to benefit participating organizations. And there will be light fare and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a no-host bar.

Last year’s show attracted a boisterous crowd. And this year’s is expected to be even bigger with perhaps as many as 50 fashion models.

The models represent various nonprofits in the valley. In addition to modeling their fun fashion, representatives will have the opportunity to give a two-minute spiel about their organization.

The event was created to spotlight organizations that will be participating in Idaho Gives, which solicits donations for Idaho nonprofits from April 29 to May 2 at https://www.idahogives.org/.

“It’s a fun way of talking about the organizations, all supporting one another,” said Tammy Davis, the Crisis Hotline director who created the event.

“It’s so much fun—all the models prowling along the catwalk,” added Herbert Romero, who will be one of this year’s emcees.

Participating organizations, include the Flourish Foundation, which goes into classrooms in the Wood River Valley to nurture minds and build resilience. The organization also offers wellness workshops and public mindfulness meditations at its Hailey office.

Other organizations showing up for the Wednesday fashion show include Far + Wise, Blaine County Charitable Fund, Men’s Second Chance Living, the Wood River Land Trust, The Senior Connection, Higher Ground and The Space.

Tickets to the Funky Fashion Show are $10, available at https://thecrisishotline.org/2nd-annual-funky-fashion-show/.

ON BEHALF OF IDAHO GIVES

J.McLaughlin dress shop in Ketchum invites the community to enjoy sips and spring shopping on behalf of the statewide initiative called Idaho Gives on Tuesday, April 30. Fifteen percent of sales from noon to 4 p.m. will benefit the nonprofit that organizes a multi-day donation initiative for nonprofits throughout Idaho.

J.McLaughlin is located at 520 E. 4th St.