On May 16th, THE FASHIONISTAS played host to an NGO out of Uganda called Caring Hands with a benefit entitled "Jewels in the Jungle." Caring Hands was started in early 2006 to provide income for the women of a small village outside of Kampala, Uganda. At Caring Hands, beautiful African bracelets, necklaces, and anklets are created out of recycled paper. This jewelry is then sold to other local villages and the profits are used to reinvest in the community into two separate funds. The first fund is an Emergency Fund that helps with immediate needs of the village such as hospital bills, rent, school fees, etc. The second fund is a Micro-Finance fund that helps provide start-up capital for local businesses in order to build and grow businesses, providing opportunities for those in need through additional jobs, resources, and money.

"Jewels in the Jungle" took place from 8-10:30 pm at One Arts Plaza on May 16th, 2008. The theme of the night was jungle design with a keen focus on promoting “green” environmental consciousness. Models in African attire were adorned in Caring Hands jewelry, and African-themed food and music was enjoyed while video displays of Caring Hands played. Tickets were priced at $25, and $75, the latter included one "Runway" level membership to The Fashionistas and access to the event's VIP After-Party at ghostbar, graciously sponsored by the N9NE Group.

Sponsors

• Sewell
• Paper City
• VIB
• Simply Personal
• Renee Rouleau
• Cannon Lewis
• On Earth
• Cymbidium
• The Urban Blossom
• Trivate Entertainment
• LeBlon
• Cork
• Sreen Door
• Jim Lee