Justice & Soul Foundation hosts fundraising event, exceeds goal

Photo by Fa’uma Jerome

The Justice and Soul Foundation hosted the second-annual fundraising event, “Fashion SOULstice,” on March 28 to raise money to continue and expand operations at a cosmetology school in Cambodia. The event, held at Emerald City Trapeze in Seattle, drew a standing-room-only audience of over 550 attendees and raised just over $75,000.

The highlight of the evening was a fashion show with models styled by local salons. Fourteen salons and one cosmetology school participated to create the vision and style of each signature look. The partnering salons and school included: James Alan Salon and Spa, Robert Leonard Salon, Rosaline Hampton, William James Salon, MODE Organic Salon, Lisa Power Salon, Hair Lounge and Spa, Collage Salon, Salon Circa, 7 Salon, Brassfields, Charbon, Vasuda, Summit Salon Academy of Tacoma, and Vann•Edge.

Photo by Fa’uma Jerome

The sold-out evening also featured a silent auction, raising a total of just over $75,000 which will be used to continue to teach cosmetology skills to young survivors of sex trafficking in the Foundation’s new vocation training program at the Kate Korpi Salon in Cambodia, which opened in July 2014.

“Last year when we held the first-annual Fashion SOULstice fundraiser, we set the bar very high and put a strong focus on raising money to continue to develop the vocational training program and open the doors to the Kate Korpi Salon and Academy in Phnom Penh. 

"To have doubled our attendance and increased our fundraising at the 2015 event is incredible, and speaks to the tremendous support we have received for this effort. We've already started to look to the 2016 event and hope to draw 1000 attendees,” explained Justice and Soul Foundation Co-Founder Matthew Fairfax, owner of the James Alan Salon in Shoreline.

What started as an idea discussed over a cup of coffee five years ago blossomed into a full day of salon “practice” appointments for the soft opening of the Kate Korpi Salon in in July 2014. Since then, the Kate Korpi Salon has become Cambodia’s premier hair salon, where students learn cosmetology and professional workplace skills from expert trainers and volunteers from around the globe.  

Photo by Tanner Stewart

The teaching salon was established to provide its students with the fundamentals of cosmetology (hair, skin, nails, and makeup). Students attending the school include survivors of sex trafficking and those at risk for sexual exploitation. They do not pay tuition, but are instead awarded scholarships. The program also includes a compensation plan for the students so that they can begin experiencing sustainable financial independence while learning this valuable trade.

The Justice and Soul Foundation works closely with local non-profits to ensure students have access to qualified therapists to address the trauma experienced by the victims while providing problem-solving and life skills necessary for independence and a full transition. A modified version of the Pivot Point cosmetology curriculum, which has been generously donated, is being used with special consideration given to the education levels of the students.

The Justice and Soul Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on eliminating the sexual exploitation of young women and children globally as well as the restoration of the survivors. Through the Founders’ shared connections to the salon and fashion industry, and, after several years of research, planning and interviews, they are enlisting the support of the beauty industry to create a sustainable, systemic solution that addresses sex trafficking.