Fashionistas Celebrated Women's Leadership at Max Mara Fashion Show

The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County's (The Chest) Young Women's Leadership Program celebrated its seventh anniversary with a fashion show at Max Mara. Fashionistas attended and explored Max Mara's 2024 fall and winter collection at the Max Mara store, located at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack, New Jersey.

The fashion show was free and open to the public. During the show, these women leaders in the community modeled the latest fashions:

• Ava Balducci, a senior in high school and an intern with The Community Chest;

• Karin Erdtmann, a director on The Community Chest’s Board of Managers;

• Tamara Francis, a former director on The Community Chest’s Board of Managers;

• Emily Mandler, a freshman in high school; and

• Franci Steinberg, Immediate Past President of The Community Chest’s Board of Managers.

At the fashion show, artist Soo Kim from Soo Soo Studios created a live painting and also provided small painted cards for the attendees.

Supported Young Women Leaders

Guests shopped the latest fashions, and a portion of the proceeds supported The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County’s Young Women’s Leadership Program. The Chest is committed to encouraging the involvement of young women at an early age, as leaders in their communities throughout their lives. Each year, The Chest presents Young Women's Leadership awards to outstanding juniors and seniors in high school. Awards are given to students identifying as female, enrolled in their junior or senior years, and residing and/or attending a public or private a high school in eastern Bergen County, New Jersey. For further information about The Community Chest’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, contact Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director of The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County, at 201-568-7474.

The Legacy of the Elizabeths

The Young Women's Leadership Program's awards honor the legacy of the three Elizabeths -- Elizabeth Cutter Morrow, Elizabeth Morrow Morgan, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. During the Great Depression, Elizabeth Cutter Morrow, an Englewood resident, became the founding board chair of The Community Chest. Elisabeth Morrow Morgan, the founder of The Elisabeth Morrow School, grew up in Englewood. Tenafly resident Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a leader in the suffrage movement.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Since the organization's founding 91 years ago, The Chest has raised over $2 million, the equivalent of $62 million, when adjusted for inflation, and served over 100 nonprofit organizations. The Chest supports area nonprofits addressing a range of issues, including health and mental health, hunger, arts programming, the environment, and volunteerism for approximately 50,000 people annually. For further information about The Community Chest, visit the organization's website or contact (201) 568-7474.