Beauty Night Makeovers - Get Involved to Help Marginalized and Disfranchised People! By Christine

Because Dignity is Beautiful.

Swank Home


Beauty Night


I was speaking with a peer when she mentioned her daughter (a hairdresser) was participating in something called ‘Beauty Night’. After a bit of poking about I came across the organization’s website.

Beauty Night Society was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, on December 15, 2000. Caroline MacGillivray started Beauty Night while she was a volunteer at WISH Drop-in Centre and has gone on to make it a much larger, independent organization. (Wish usually sponsors Beauty Night in May and November or early December.)

Beauty Night Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that provides makeovers and other wellness programs to marginalized adults and youth. Our programs provide tools for clients to increase their self esteem and find the inner strength to make positive change in their lives.

Today, Beauty Night operates in Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto and has given more than 4,000 makeovers to clients * all without any funding*.

It's thanks to the generous donations of people, organizations and businesses that we are able to offer BEAUTY NIGHT EVENTS

A Beauty Night is a volunteer-organized event where we work with marginalized and disfranchised people to help them improve self-image and self-esteem. An event will either take place in a salon or at the hosting agencies’ facilities. We go to drop-in centers, transition homes, clinics, group homes and hospitals and we plan to acquire our own program space as well.

For our events, we bring in volunteers who offer services such as hair cutting and styling; make-up application and lessons; basic manicures and pedicures; relaxation massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and healing touch. Our image consultants help clients pick out clothing. Healthy delicious appetizers are served. Depending on the venue, sometimes music or films are played for our clients’ benefit. Gift bags are given to participants.

We are currently raising money to sustain our existing programs and to offer more programs to our clients. Check out our calendar for upcoming FUNdraising Events, in which you can participate.

Without the tireless efforts of our volunteers, there would not be a Beauty Night. Our volunteers vary from hair dressers, make up artists, massage therapists, aestheticians, nail tech's, reiki masters, reflexologists, aroma-therapists and image consultants to fundraisers, public relations and marketing professionals and event facilitators.

We average three Beauty Nights a month, so we are constantly collecting products for these events. We have given over 2000 makeovers to our clients since December 2000. Thank you so much for all of your support!

Learn how you can participate in Beauty Night, through volunteering, clothing drives or by making a donation.

Volunteer Facilitators Wanted
To learn more about becoming a volunteer facilitator phone:

Vancouver 604-601-1383
Toronto 416-379-8456
Victoria 250-360-8992

Responsibilities include: responding to emails and phone messages, coordinating events at different agencies in the city, coordinating volunteers, some public relations and fund raising, proposal writing and grant writing.

The ideal candidate should have access to email and a home telephone. She (we would prefer a female as many of the agencies we work with only want females on the premises) would also own or have access to a vehicle as Beauty Night events take place at host facilities.

All inquiries can be sent to:
Caroline MacGillivray
C/O Beauty Night Society
6187 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6M 3E2
or emailed to carolinema@beautynight.org


Below are some of the people and organizations that Beauty Night have has the pleasure of partnering up with. Thank you!

Sponsored by:

• Davis and Company
• Clear Choice Technologies Inc
• Social Empire Visit Our Website at www.socialempire.com
• Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
• Dianne Anderson and University Hill Church
• Joji's Hair School
• Colour Box
• Baxter's Hair
• Bambu Hair Salon
• Bloom Essential Spa

Donations

$2000 - 2500
• Joji's Hair School

$1600-2000
• Shannon Chowscanio, Charlene Burr, and Tracie

$1000-1499
• None noted

$200 - 500
• Fidel Thomas, Inner Visions
• Checho Tomasso's VOC Soul Gospel Choir

$99 - 200
• Defiant Women's Fund

Organizations that Beauty Night works with:

• WISH Drop In Centre
• Capilano College runs a literacy program at the WISH Drop In Centre at the First United Church and also some programs at their Pender Street office
• Spirit Way
• Elizabeth Frye Society
• DTES Women’s Centre
• DTES Community Health Centre
• Sheway
• CHIAS
• Dr. Peter's (Women's Group)
• Positive Women's Network
• Peers Vancouver
• BC Women's Hospital
• Plea's Daughters and Sisters Program
• Youth Health Fair (provided by Disease Control)
• Union Gospel Mission Youth Outreach
• Union Gospel Mission Women's Program
• Broadway Youth Resource Centre
• Collingwood Neighbourhood House
• Kettle Friendship Society
• Cornerstone Academy
• Job Quest (Burnaby Open Learning Centre)
• Trade Works
• Immigrant Services' Stepping Up Program
• Grace House (closed July 2002 due to cut backs)
• Rapha Place

In Toronto:
• Jean Tweed Centre
• Grant House
• Red Door Shelter

In Victoria
• Peers Victoria
• Open Door

For those out there who have the ability to assist with this selfless act of kindness, please step up to the plate and volunteer! Every single participant can make a difference in someone’s life.