THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604250171
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER BENNETT, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
When Christy Jennings gets dolled up Saturday to take part in the American Girls Fashion Show Saturday to benefit the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, the event will be especially meaningful.
The 10-year-old Knotts Island resident is the owner of ``Samantha,'' one of the dolls in the popular American Girls Collection, and her brother David, 5, has been a patient at the children's hospital.
``We are excited about having girls who are willing to take time out from their lives to help raise money for children who are sick and less fortunate than they are,'' said Barbara Lipskis, event chairperson.
Charm Associates is sponsoring the event at Maury High School in Norfolk where girls will don the garb of doll characters from The American Girls Collection. The doll series, which features characters from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, provides history and fun at the same time, said Lipskis. Each figure has six books written about her and her time period.
Christy has the Samantha Parkington doll, a ``bright Victorian beauty'' from 1904. Christy said she has read all the Samantha books, but will be modeling the clothes of another doll, ``Kirsten.''
``Samantha's story is a part of history,'' said the home-schooled student. ``It tells how it was and how it's changed.''
She and the other models will dress like pioneer, slave and Colonial characters. The company offers a complete line of historically inspired clothing for girls. In addition, the mail-order series includes related paraphernalia such as cookbooks, craftbooks and doll accessories. In fact, 5 percent of every order placed through special catalogs distributed through the hospital will be donated to the children's hospital. Proceeds from the event will go into the hospital's Capital Fund, Lipskis said. A raffle for dolls will be held Saturday evening.
Charm Associates, a Virginia Beach school and modeling agency, gave the young models hints on stage presence and etiquette. Christy, who has modeled before, said she knows about being on stage.
``It was scary at first, but after I got into it, it was fun,'' said the softball player, ballet dancer and Girl Scout who writes letters in Spanish to her Costa Rican pen pal. With her busy schedule, she made time to participate for more than fun.
She's modeling ``because it's raising money for children to buy medicine for them,'' she said, and ``because Jesus said we should help people. He helped people all the time.''
According to Lipskis, the children's hospital needs as much help as it can get. Founded 100 years ago by a group of women, the pediatric hospital bears a heavy load. ``We have so many indigent families that don't have health insurance,'' said Lipskis. ``We can't just throw them by the wayside and let them die.''
In addition to the added costs of uninsured patients, the demands of such specialized care as pediatric medicine can be expensive. Children need distinctive equipment and hospital accommodations, Lipskis said. Doctors must use specific surgical tools for babies. Pediatric medicine fills needs often unmet by general hospitals. Christy's parents, Lynne and Frank, the minister at Knotts Island United Methodist Church, agreed.
Their son David has Down syndrome. He developed respiratory synthetic virus and pneumonia one Christmas Eve and they took him to King's Daughters hospital for treatment. Now they realize even more the significance of having a children's hospital nearby.
``It means security that we can and have used,'' Lynne Jennings said. ``I would not take my child to any other hospital.'' MEMO: Fashion shows are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at Maury High School in
Norfolk. Tickets are $15. Call 668-7098. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Christy Jennings, a 10-year-old Knotts Island resident, will model
in the American Girls Fashion Show Saturday. She owns ``Samantha,''
one of the dolls in the American Girls collection.
Photo
Christy's brother David, has Down syndrome and has been a patient at
Children's Hospital.
by CNB