Just recently, TYTE Media had a chance to sit down with Roger Francisco, the founder and executive director of Bay Area Fashion Week (BAFW). BAFW is an annual charity project that has grown to become the largest fashion affair celebrated in the west coast. It is recognized by the city of San Francisco as a significant event that has contributed to the betterment of the community. BAFW teams up with organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Goodwill to raise money to help feed children in the Philippines through the nonprofit organization, Mainitnons sa Amerika (MsA), which was also founded by Francisco.
MsA is a relief organization that is based in the United States to help the people of Mainit, Philippines. When asked why BAFW was specifically a charity event under MsA with goals towards helping feed the hungry in the Philippines, Francisco told us that this subject hits close to home. Francisco’s hometown is in Mainit, Philippines. He said that once he traveled back to Mainit, he realized how some children were living in very poor conditions. He felt as if he needed to help these children of his hometown, and that helping them may contribute to better understanding his past and his hometown.
Designers and Models Fashion Guild USA (DMFG) is a production product that was also founded by Francisco. DMFG runs along with MsA towards the same goal of helping to feed families in Mainit, Philippines. DMFG features designers, hair and makeup artists, and models in the fashion industry from all over the world. DMFG hosts events throughout the year to help get these designers, artists and models’ names out there. An event happening this Saturday, June 9, 2012 is called Lions and Fashion.
Lions and Fashion is a charitable fundraising event hosted by DMFG and BAFW, under MsA. This event is the 80th celebration of the Sunnyvale Host Lions Club, which helps to serve community members. Lions and Fashion showcases 20 fashion designers from all over the world. This event is sponsored by Peter Cassara Clothiers, Care on Call, and more. Its supporters include Aveda, Shiseido, and more. Lions and Fashion benefits charities such as the Lions Club International Foundation, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and more. There are to be over 50 models featured in the show, as well as a large crew of hair and makeup artists. Media coverage includes video and photography.
BAFW’s events have been such a success in the past; it’s no wonder how excited even we are to see what the Lions and Fashion event will bring to the community. Francisco’s heart and soul is in all of the events he plans. He is passionate about his work and isn’t afraid to show it to the world. Francisco gets satisfaction out of helping others. He strives to make “dreams come true for everyone.” Through fashion, Francisco continues to help people express themselves. In the past, Francisco had a 16-year-old designer open for his show. She was a “fresh face” and brand new to the fashion industry. Letting her open for his show quickly got her an incredible reputation in the fashion industry. Francisco also featured a 69-year-old designer as the closing act to his show in a previous year. All of her life, she had never made a name for herself, but Francisco saw talent in her. He saw her dream of wanting to be a designer ever since she was 20 years old. Francisco makes dreams happen! These stories are what makes his fashion shows spectacular.
Starting at 5:00PM, community members can get a firsthand look at all the fashion during the red carpet portion of the night’s event. Dinner starts at 6:30PM, with featured vocalist, John DeMers, who is known as the Bay Area’s Frank Sinatra. Dinner is followed by the fashion show which starts at 7:30PM. This night of festivities will take place at the I.F.E.S. Society at 432 Stierlin Road, at Shoreline Boulevard, in Mountain View, CA. A $45 donation will cover the dinner and the fashion show.
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