13 Feb Why iStyled.me?

a brief interview with Lisa O’dell, INVEST chairman at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School in Nashville

Hi Lisa! What is INVEST, and what is your role responsible for?

I am in charge of raising funds that the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) uses to pay for financial voids at the school. The money is used for continuing education and seminars for the teachers, expensive supplies and technology for the science, engineering and math departments, supplies and materials for other classes including subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, tutors, ACT and SAT prep classes, etc. The istyled.me event is part of the INVEST campaign and we are hoping to raise at least $3,000.

How did you decide on a fashion show?

Raising money is not easy and can be a real chore. I thought a fashion show would be a fun way to raise money and to allow students to be creative and show off their unique styles.

Why partner with Goodwill?

Looking good and owning your style is very important to high school students, but not everyone can afford to shop at J. Crew or Abercrombie and Fitch. I’ve been shopping at Goodwill for years and I introduced my daughter to the concept when she was in middle school. Now that she’s in high school, and at a school that does not mandate standard school attire (SSA), she revels in the opportunity to showcase her own style. As part of that, she shuns most popular stores because of the cost and her fear that she will go to school wearing an outfit that someone else has on. Goodwill allows her to create a unique style … and one that doesn’t break the bank. The event is a tribute to my daughter and the fun we have together and to Goodwill, an organization we support and one that in turn, creates many necessary jobs in Middle Tennessee.

When I shop at Goodwill, especially on the First Saturday of the month, I see students from all types of schools – public and private and from many of the local colleges. I know the great deals you can get at Goodwill and so do they.

Interested in participating in the iStyled.me challenge? Here’s how it works: