Jamie Heater was the special guest speaker for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
PENN TWP — As the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center’s annual fashion show marked its fifth year, executive director Joe Mahoney was left to think about how much the event has impacted the center’s work.
“To be able to see the community pull together for addiction treatment the way that this community has,” he said. “I think it is a tremendous impact and morale boost to those that are suffering with addiction and their loved ones, to see that people do care and people are supporting them on their journeys.”
The Gaiser Center held its fifth fashion show at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township on Sunday, Oct. 19. Attendees were able to eat lunch while enjoying the show, which featured 10 brands — mostly from Butler County — presenting some of their clothing and accessory items.
While the event had plenty to offer for those interested in fashion, it primarily served as a fundraiser for the center, supporting its addiction treatment programs and helping pay for clients to stay at the center.
Beyond the show, the event also brought numerous vendors, raffles and auctions to the country club to raise even more funds.
“We have a scholarship fund set aside for our clients, and the money that we raise today goes toward that scholarship,” Mahoney said. “That helps us offset if the client has stays shortened by insurance companies, for instance … If their insurance gets turned off or hasn’t been turned on yet while they start at our outpatient program, we’re able to pay for that out of the fund.”
Gaiser Center executive director Joe Mahoney presented Jess Matonak, executive director of communications and marketing at Butler County Community College, with the Friend of Gaiser Award at the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
The first fashion show, which was hosted in 2019, raised over $10,000. The event was hosted for a second time in 2022 and became an annual event. This year, the event garnered over $30,000 from sponsors alone.
“That’s the most we’ve ever raised,” Mahoney said. “I always tell the story that when I first started, a lot of people said ‘You’d never be able to fundraise for addiction treatment. It’s not where people put their money.’ I’m the kind of person that will always say to watch me.”
A story of recovery
Before the models took to the runway, Jamie Heater shared her own story of recovery through the Gaiser Center after her lifelong battle with addiction.
“I’m a little over a year clean now and that’s the first time I’ve ever been this long clean in my 24 years of using,” she said.
Heater said she used the trauma she faced as a child to keep herself in a victim mentality. Ultimately, she decided she needed to better herself, not only for her loved ones, but for herself as well.
“I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, so I started to apply the things they were trying to tell me in rehab,” she said. “I truly believe that Gaiser saved my life and changed me.”
Heater said that while she was under the center’s care she was treated extremely well and felt she was always heard and supported. She thanked the staff, especially the ones who played a firsthand role in her recovery.
Before ending her speech she said that recovery is possible for anyone.
“I still have bad days. Life still happens, but I get through it, and I don’t pick up over it now,” she said. “It is possible, you just got to want it and you got to work for it.”
Emma Petrovic walks the runway for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Harley Plugh models jewelry for Robert Stephens Jewelers at the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Lou Ann Rosellini gave the opening prayer at the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Jess Matonak accepted the Friend of Gaiser Award for BC3 at the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Laura Crago served as emcee for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Gaiser Center Executive Director, Joe Mahoney welcomes guests to the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, “Restoring Hope on the Runway,” on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
Sara Ritchey models clothing from Mainstreet Boutique in Cranberry for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, "Restoring Hope on the Runway" held at the Butler Country Club on Sunday, Oct 19. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Sabrina Young models clothing from Boutique Blue in Zelienople for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, "Restoring Hope on the Runway" held at the Butler Country Club on Sunday, Oct 19. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Avia Smith models clothing from Mainstreet Boutique in Cranberry for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, "Restoring Hope on the Runway" held at the Butler Country Club on Sunday, Oct 19. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Jenn Graham models clothing from Boutique Blue in Zelienople for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, "Restoring Hope on the Runway" held at the Butler Country Club on Sunday, Oct 19. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
Jesalynn Voelker models clothing from Mainstreet Boutique in Cranberry for the fifth annual Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center fashion show, "Restoring Hope on the Runway" held at the Butler Country Club on Sunday, Oct 19. Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle
