By Anthony Richards
The 44th Annual Camp I Am Special Fashion Show was held March 14 at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Jacksonville.
There is a lot that goes into putting together Camp I Am Special behind the scenes so that it is a success and can offer the true summer camp experience to its campers.
“We have to more than 20 trained staff, and that includes a week’s long worth of training and making sure that they have all the backgrounds like CPR and first aid,” said Isaiah Maass, Camp I Am Special camp director. “All of those get wrapped up into our fundraising efforts, and fortunately, the fashion show is always our biggest fundraiser.”
One of the unique aspects of the show was that campers were the models and got to choose the attire or costumes they wore down the runway to fit this year’s theme of a “storybook summer,” which will also be the theme of this year’s camp.
Maass understands firsthand how important the camp and a community event like this is, as his sister, Abigail, is a regular at camp and was one of the models.
“I think people might not realize how much it means to feel the applause and cheering from the crowd that the show presents,” he said. “We have so many opportunities for them to just come and be themselves and be celebrated for that.”
The personalities of the campers really began to show as the show went on, with each having their own way of modeling their attire.
“Whether the model was sprinting down the runway or taking a moment to sing, they are being cheered on just as much as the next, which really their confidence and just be comfortable in their own skin and bringing out their individuality,” he said.
The St. Augustine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women hosts the fundraiser each year.
“Our mission is to be with people and help serve all types of people and where they are in the community,” said Pattie Halle, president of the St. Augustine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. “This is such a special event because a lot of us have gone and worked at the camp as volunteers. It’s just part of sharing God’s gift he’s given to us with them.”
Each summer during camp the DCCW picks one night and fixes dinner for all the campers.
Over the last four-plus decades, the fashion show has become a tradition for all involved and something the councils at various parishes across the diocese hold close to their heart.
“It’s exciting knowing that it’s continued on and we’re not just doing a one-time event, but instead it just keeps growing,” Halle said. “These are special people and they deserve to have a special event.”
