Fashion show raises $8G for Harley Ave. PTA

Karen Koliadko isn’t a fashion model.

She’s a principal.

But last night she got to be both as part of a PTA fundraiser for Elwood School District’s Harley Avenue Primary School.

Koliadko, along with nine other faculty and staff members, modeled designer clothing and jewelry at the Larkfield Manor in East Northport at the Harley PTA’s first spring auction and fashion show, which raised about $8,000 for the school’s cultural arts programs.

“I think it’s fabulous,” says Koliadko about last night’s event, which drew about 200 attendees. “It brings the staff, the parents and the community together all working toward one goal.”

More than 90 businesses, including Disney, Keurig and Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, donated prizes ranging from Disney Park Hopper tickets to a 32-inch flat screen TV. Infinity of Woodbury provided the model’s clothing and Jewels by Park Lane in Oyster Bay supplied the jewelry.

“It’s for a great cause,” said Infinity co-owner Jacqueline Pezza, who had a display table at the fashion show last night.

The PTA generally raises about $15,000 annually to spend on cultural arts, events and field trips at Harley Avenue, according to Harley PTA treasurer Risa Curiale, one of the event coordinators.

For instance, this month, it will foot the bill for about 200 kindergartners to visit the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport.

Cultural arts represents the largest part of the PTA’s $25,000 annual budget, notes Harley PTA co-president Melissa Maher, explaining that the district pays for half of the cultural arts programs and the PTA matches the other half.

“They continually step up no matter how bad the times are,” says Martha DeMartini, a Harley kindergarten teacher and the PTA teacher liaison, who was one of the models last night.

In the past, the PTA has raised its half through smaller fundraisers throughout the year, but this year decided to host one larger event.

“We thought it would be a lot of fun,” Curiale says.

Plus, it was a chance to make up a bulk of their cultural arts budget for next year in one event rather then rely on uncertain tinier fundraisers, particularly in this difficult economy.

“We realize money has been tight over the last few years,” says Maher. “We want to go into next year feeling safe about our budget and this will help us do that.”

One of the highlights of the evening was a Chinese auction, where 90-plus baskets and prizes were raffled off.

Kelly Murphy of Huntington snagged three prizes last night, including a toy chest and “girlie girls” gift set, which included a gift certificate to a local dance studio.

“Amelia is going to love this,” says Murphy, referring to her 6-year-old kindergartner. “I usually don’t win.”

Patty Borodin of Elwood, who won a holiday-themed basket and a Kellogg’s gift basket, was equally excited, noting, “I hope they have it again next year.”

The PTA says they will likely do it again given this year’s success.

“It’s a fun night out and it benefits the children in the end,” says Maher.