YOUR AD HERE »

Project Funway raises $100,000 for local schools

Adults First place: Viviana Marquez (Model: Berit Kirchner); Adult Second place: Jen Hooker & Marcy Tracy (model: Bailey Bossow); and Adult Third place: Sara Manwiller

VAIL — For the seventh year in a row, Education Foundation of Eagle County’s Project Funway event provided a spark of creativity and an evening of fashion, food and fun, all in the name of raising money for teacher and classroom support throughout Eagle County.

The event held Saturday, Feb. 10, hosted at Dobson Arena in Vail raised approximately $100,000 in net income for the foundation.

Astounding the more than 600 people in attendance, event creators found new ways to entertain the ever-expanding audience with the addition of “Project Runway” star and Denver-born fashion designer Mondo Guerra as a guest judge.



“Once again, Project Funway was a shining example of the creativity and passion that thrives in our community,” said Amy Lewis, EFEC’s executive director. “The commitment from Eagle County residents, businesses and leaders who believe in supporting top quality education for all students throughout our rural district is a gift. This funding allows EFEC programs that ensure low student-teacher ratios, facilitate important new STEM curriculum and retain top quality teachers to continue and positively impact our youth. And, of course, Mondo was a wonderful addition. He talked about teachers who inspired and encouraged his creativity while growing up and that is exactly what we want people to recognize — how important teachers are to each student’s development.”

Project Funway, presented by Vail Health for the third year in a row, is an unconventional fashion design event that challenges amateur and professional designers to create garments out of anything but fabric and send them down a runway to be critiqued by expert judges.

Support Local Journalism



This year was no exception and the designers truly exceeded expectations with designs made of construction materials, old cowboy boots, cereal boxes, pipe cleaners, safety pins, coffee filters, solar eclipse glasses, to name a few, and lots of fasteners, duct tape and hot glue.

Meet the Winners

Project Funway featured three designer competition categories: Youth 12 and younger; young adults 13-18; and adults. Each showcased the innovative, fun and extraordinary designs from a wide range of creative minds. Prizes were awarded for the top three designs in each of the categories, along with a Best in Show selection from Mondo Guerra. This year’s winners are:

Youth (12 and younger):

First place: Hannah and Lucy Tamberino — Pipe cleaners, pompoms and paper towels

Second place: Zahra Stone — Recycled news paper bags, Peacock feather and found objects

Third place: Eden Campos — Cups, plastic spoons, doilies, paper plates and bowls

Young adults (13-18):

First place: Chloe Hornbostel — 3,500 coffee filters with fabric dye and duct tape bodice

Second place: Stella Jackson and Jessica Matsen — Cans, hot glue, duct tape and string

Third place: Grace Christenberry — Popcorn bags and soda cups

Adults:

First place: Viviana Marquez (model: Berit Kirchner) — Paper plates, plastic cups and plastic cutlery

Second place: Jen Hooker and Marcy Tracy (model: Bailey Bossow) — Drinking straws, to-go dinner menus and bamboo placemats

Third place: Sara Manwiller — Tyvek and condoms

Mondo Guerra Best in Show:

Nicholas and Brielle Dale — Homework, cardboard, paper, magazines, cereal boxes, Bertolli noodle boxes, more homework, foam paper scraps from old artwork, People magazine and Singletree magazine

About the Education Foundation of Eagle County

The Education Foundation of Eagle County exists to support the creation and delivery of an excellent learning experience for all students within the Eagle County public school system.

EFEC procures funding for tools, technology and staff through public grants and private donations. EFEC also works to provide sustainable funding sources through local and statewide legislative advocacy on K-12 education funding policy and mobilizes community engagement by recognizing excellence in teaching.


Support Local Journalism