14-05-2025
Fashion Week of Rochester benefits Center for Youth for 15th year
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Fashion Week of Rochester is back, and over the next few days, the Temple Theater in Downtown Rochester will be transformed into a runway.
The event is held annually to benefit The Center for Youth, which serves 40,000 kids every year across its many programs. The partnership has been ongoing for 15 years.
'Giving back to the children that I don't know, I can involve children that I do know on the runway and give them that thrill of an experience,' said Meghan Mundy, the founder of Fashion Week of Rochester. 'So, it just makes me feel good.'
Mundy says she's been working in the fashion industry for 40 years. So, this is a labor of love for her, and one she puts all her energy into.
'The entire world is a runway to me. So, I'll see something and I'll think that looks great on the runway,' she said, 'I brought in acrobats from West Africa that were in the circus here in the U.S. So, it's just constantly letting your creative juices see something and see it on the runway.'
One of her visions for this year was bringing in global fashion designer Adebayo Jones. He's been a designer for 40 years and is doing the work pro bono because he enjoys giving back.
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'When you've been blessed to be in a position to support others and to give back as well, making a difference in other people's lives,' Jones said.
He tells News 8 this year's theme is about luxury and glamour, but also classic.
'I like to make sure that from different age groups they can get something from what we have,' he said, 'every woman can find a piece of themselves.'
Both Jones and Mundy say this year's fashion show will be one for the books.
Fashion Week of Rochester is May 15th and 16th. Tickets are available now.
The funds will go to the Arnett House, which is a transitional living program for young people identifying as LGBTQ+. It is funded only by the support of the community. The Thursday show is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for this program and to safeguarding the much-needed support.
On Friday night, the runway show will highlight the needs in the Youth Center's 24/7 emergency shelter for youth ages 12-17, who find themselves on the street without adult support or who are seeking safety and security.
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