BankUnited’s LittleBig GlamSlam Fashion Show – a fabulous evening of fun, fashion, glamour and glitz – raised $55,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s BankUnited Legacy Scholarship Fund, which offers higher education and vocational opportunities for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ kids.

“We’re just thrilled that this first-time event was over-the-top successful,” said Ana M. Cedeno, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. “We nearly tripled our fundraising goal, thanks to the efforts of our amazing models, community leaders who tapped their competitive spirit for the benefit of our the at-risk kids we serve.”

Models competed for “Woman on the Verge” and “Man on the Edge” top honors by fundraising for Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Malena Mendez-Dorn, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, ran a razor-thin race with Mary Harris, SVP of BankUnited.  Mendez-Dorn was proclaimed “Woman on the Verge” after barely moving ahead of Harris.  The “Man on the Edge” winner was Chad Van Horn, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ board member and statewide “BIG of the Year.”

“I’m completely overwhelmed by the generosity of those who supported this event and the competitive fierceness of all these models,” said LittleBig Glam Slam Co-chair and Women on the Verge Founder Traci Miller.  “Kudos especially go to Malena and Mary, who joyfully fought it out all the way to the end.  Their hard work, along with the efforts of all the models, ultimately will make a huge impact by providing scholarships for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ kids.”

Emceed by WPLG Local 10 reporter and former Big Sister Kristi Krueger, LittleBig GlamSlam featured a full runway fashion show in front of an audience of 200-plus fashionistas at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort Fort Lauderdale Beach.  Volunteer models included: LittleBig Glam Slam Co-chair and Women on the Verge Founder Traci Miller, Miller Construction Company; LittleBig Glam Slam Co-chair Cindy Schutt, Cindy Schutt PR; Mary Harris, BankUnited; Ginna Martineau; Malena Mendez-Dorn, Broward Center for the Performing Arts; Troy McHatton, Nationwide Haul; Erika Royal, Holland & Knight; Jessica Urbanski, Morgan Stanley; and Chad Van Horn, Van Horn, P.A.  The adult models walked with Little Brothers and Sisters, aged 7 to 17. About a dozen members of the talented “Heroes of Hip Hop” youth dance troupe provided an amazing, energetic performance in between runway walks.

Sponsors for the sold-out event, in addition to presenting sponsor BankUnited, included:  Adrianna Papell, Bahia Mar Beach Resort Fort Lauderdale Beach, Beckon Wine, Cato Insurance Group, Miller Construction Company, Morph Clothing, ServePro, Sixth Star Entertainment & Marketing, South Florida Reporter and Victoria Duke Beauty.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  The organization partners with parents, guardians, volunteers and others in the community and holds itself accountable for each child in its program achieving: higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, educational success and avoidance of risky behaviors.  For more information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County at 954-584-9990.