Surrounded by magenta curtains and dangling strings of lights, Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora strutted across the Horizon Convention Center stage Sunday night in a sparkly, white, silk gown.
Ball State Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham took a more sporty approach earlier in the evening with a white Nike shirt, NBC sports leather jacket and Greg Norman slacks.
From casual to sports to elegant wear, six Ball State representatives and 27 local community and business leaders sported their own outfits during the "They Shall Rise Again" Muncie Celebrity Style Show. The show attracted 400 spectators and raised at least $10,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims living in Delaware County.
Each model was asked to sell at least 10 tickets at $20 apiece for the Hoosier Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross.
"At first we had said we would send the money down south to the Red Cross," said Bea Moten-Foster, chair of the show's committee and editor and publisher of The Muncie Times. "But after finding out there were 54 families right here, we decided we would raise the money here and keep it here."
The style show featured three modeling segments: "Consider Me Casual, Consider Me Cool and Content," "Sportstacular and Sensational Hoosier Hyped" and "High Street Elegance Day or Night."
Cunningham, who wore a tuxedo and plaid bow tie during the elegance segment, said he was nervous about modeling for the first time.
"I'm not used to doing that," Cunningham said. "I've never done that before, but I figured it was for a good cause, so I said, 'Hey, I'd do it.'"
Cunningham said he was pleased with the show's success, especially because it involved several individuals from both the university and local community. "It raised awareness and money for a very good cause, and it brought together a number of people from the community who don't get the chance to come together very often," Cunningham said.
In the casual category, Gora also wore brown corduroy slacks, brown shoes and a green shimmery blouse. Alice Cheney, WIPB-TV's general manager, displayed her Big Bird and Clifford stuffed animals while dressed in black casual wear, as well as a more dressy navy pants and pale teal turtleneck.
"Obviously it was for a great cause," Roller said. "Anytime Bea asks me to do anything, I'll be there to help out. Any chance I get to get on stage and strut my stuff is pretty fun, too."
Tim Buckley, Ball State's head men's basketball coach, showed off his camel-colored cashmere blend sports jacket, white dress shirt, Italian silk tie and black pants and shoes.
Maria Williams-Hawkins, telecommunications professor, wore a Western-style suede red suit with a white blouse, red silk scarf, boots and bag. In the show's last segment, she displayed a black and gold evening African outfit.
Foster said the idea of the community-style show came from a show she created several years ago to raise money for Muncie's Youth Opportunity Center, which was called the Children's Home at the time. Although Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf region a while ago, the devastation is still fresh in everyone's minds, Foster said.
"Stuff has not ended yet," she said. "Even though we're not getting publicity around the clock seven days a week, people are still suffering."
Ball State graduate Stephanie J. Smith-Sanders, whose two-story home was submerged during Hurricane Katrina, said she was pleased with the amount of money raised and the Red Cross's generosity toward local evacuees. Smith-Sanders will remain in a temporary home near the Ball State campus during the next six months to a year before returning home to New Orleans.
"It's pretty devastating there right now," she said. "I have a couple of friends who went back and wish they hadn't."
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