Businesswomen host block party for Dawn Center

There were talks between Kimber Lofley and Alice Pirola about hosting a fundraiser.

When those talks got serious, so did the endeavor.

There is nothing measly about the services provided by the Dawn Center, they thought. They decided to "go all out."

They organized a six-hour fundraiser outside Danielle's Hair Salon and Spa. Their event included haircuts, makeup consultations, jewelry vendors, food and a visit from Santa.

Business boomed all day Saturday.

"It means to me that the county supports the work the Dawn Center does and they want to see us continue the work we do," said Debbie Andrews, who runs the shelter for abused women and children.

Lofley is a manager at the salon while Pirola operates her own Mary Kay cosmetics business.

"We're doing it to support women and the kids and it's such a wonderful organization," Pirola said. "What people put into it is amazing to me."

The residents at the center will be invited to the salon next week to get makeovers, Lofley said.

Some of the leftover baked goods provided Saturday by the Mother's Club of Hernando County also will be given to the residents.

State funding is being cut and it seems as though people aren't as willing to send the same donations as they did a couple years ago. That is why Lofley and Pirola insisted on hosting Saturday's fundraiser so close to Christmas.

The salon remained packed beyond 1 p.m. By the midway mark, organizers had collected more than $650, Lofley said.

Andrews said her goal is to raise $100,000 for the year.

Teresa Robinson, of Spring Hill, had never previously heard of the Dawn Center before she and her friend visited the salon Saturday.

Someone close to her friend received much-needed help from the shelter.

The preference this Christmas for Robinson and her friend was to donate to a worthy cause rather than exchange gifts. They decided on the Dawn Center.

"I think it's really important for women to be independent and safe and to have someone who can help them start over," Robinson said.

For more information, visit www.dawncenter.org.