
If you’re going to make a big fashion announcement, it…
Founded in 2015, the Texas Legacy Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by Vivian Wise to channel a portion of the proceeds from Heart of Fashion to specific designated charities.
For details of how we may help you, please contact texaslegacyfoundation@heartoffashion.com
Star of Hope is a Christ-centered community dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children. Positive life changes are encouraged through structured programs that focus on spiritual growth, education, employement, life management and recovery from substance abuse. Star of Hope maintains, maganges and operates: The Women and Family Emergency Shelter; The Transitional Living Center; The June Waggoner House of Hope Day Care Center; and the Doris and Carloss Morris Men’s Developement Center. Star of Hope mission is funded through public and private donations, the United Way, churches, civic/community groups, corporations, grants and foundations. In addition, they are assisted by more than 7,300 volunteers.
Recipe for Success is dedicated to combating childhood obesity by changing the way children understand, apreciate and eat their food – and by educating and mobilizing the community to provide healthier diets for children. Since 2005, he organization has been developing comprehensive experiential learning programs to promote healthy eating with books, contests and public awarenesss campaigns, and working to make affordable, healthy food available to everyone. Recipe for Success envisions a world where healthy eating is the norm and a culture where nutritious food is shared, appreciated and celebrated.
The Birthday Party Project brings joy to homeless children through the magic of birthdays by hosting parties with agencies around the country, including Family Gateway (Dallas), The Family Place (Dallas), Genisis Women’s Shelter and Support (Dallas), The mission of Yahweh (Houston), Ronald McDonald House (Dallas), and Star of Hope (Houston). At each monthly themed party, children enjoy decorations, games, crafts, cupcakes and party favors. Plus each birthday boy or girl recieves a personal birthday gift and badge. The Birthday Party Project has celebrated over 2,000 birthdays, eaten 17,500 cupcakes, and sang “Happy Birthday” over 900 times.
The Lupus Foundation of America envisions “a life free of lupus.” It is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, a cruel, unpredictable and devastating autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs). Research estimates that 1.5 million Americans have lupus; it is a disease of flares and remissions that ranges from mild to life-threatening. The mission of the foundation and its chapters is to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, support and advocacy.
Meals on Wheels is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need, including the elderly, homebound, disabled, frail and otherwise at-risk.
Legacy Community Health Services is a community health center that offers comprehensive primary health care services to all Houstonians in a culturally sensitive, judgment-free, and confidential environment. Legacy provides no-cost or low-cost health care to nearly 50,000 men, women, and children each year.
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a rare genetic connective tissue disease effecting the dermis and epidermis, causing extreme frailty of the skin resulting in the proliferation of blisters. It can be lethal. Children with EB are often referred to as Butterfly Children because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wings.
Heart of Fashion celebrates the art of style by showcasing seasoned and emerging designers in an electric atmosphere conceived to exude a sense of creativity. The series of events will allow patrons unique opportunities to meet and speak with the artists, hear stories about their personal journeys and the inspiration behind their designs, and have access to their most current collections.
WHY IS THIS GOOD? Because growing up, Vivian learned a few things. And they uniquely prepared her to pursue this mission.
She loved fashion. As a little girl, Vivian played dress up. She loved Barbie and her red patent leather shoes, especially, “because I thought they had magical powers.” She also adored her grandmother’s closet of couture, and valued her wise perspective. “My grandmother always told me, “Dress the way you want to feel.’” She helped Vivian see past the functionality of clothes to appreciate the heart or emotion behind the design.
She had a knack for business. Vivian attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. While preparing to go to law school, her life’s course took a turn when she fell in love with Velvet Slipper, a local boutique. She graduated with honors, with a degree in English Literature, and became queen of a shoe emporium unlike any other. Having always possessed a knack for throwing memorable parties, Vivian devised a way to extend her retail hours by hosting a series of “after-dark” events. This, plus negotiating with top labels (such as Prada, Jimmy Choo, and Louboutin) to grant her rights to exclusive styles—and conceiving of a first-ever runway show for shoes—are but a few illustrations of her ability to turn progressive ideas into profitable ventures. Oh, and all the while she continues to deliver on another primary objective—make it fun.
She could make a difference. “The world is a great big wide space, but I was taught that everything we do has a ripple effect,” Wise explains. “My family has a long tradition of philanthropic endeavors, so it’s almost like I have a genetic awareness of the responsibility to do something meaningful and to pay it forward in life.” A fan of author Wallace Wattles, Wise also shares his philosophy, “The very best thing you can do for the world is to make the best of yourself.”
11 Commandments. Huh? As an aside, there’s one more thing that you may find interesting about Ms. Vivian and her irreverent spirit. “I believe the first 10 Commandments are the rules for living in a polite society,” she explains, “because murder is downright rude,” she adds—in jest. “I decided there should be an 11th Commandment that allows for some naughty good fun: Don’t get caught. Don’t get caught doing ________ or being ________. You can fill in the blanks as you see fit.”
Don’t get caught missing your opportunity to celebrate the art of style while giving back.
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