Partners Advancing Student Success (PASS) of West Georgia celebrated Ladies Night Out on July 31, raising more than $94,000 to support student advocacy programs serving local schools.
The annual fashion show welcomed a large crowd, with more than 300 guests gathering at the University of West Georgia Campus Center Ballroom for an evening of fashion, shopping and philanthropy. Nine local boutiques participated in the runway show, which included models from the local community and gave guests the opportunity to shop featured styles before and after the event.
While Ladies Night Out is PASS’s largest annual fundraiser, the event represents something much bigger than one evening of giving. Every dollar raised directly supports the organization’s mission of removing barriers for students and helping them stay on the path to graduation.
“Ladies Night Out is so much more than a fundraiser — it’s a celebration of what our community can accomplish when people come together for a common purpose,” said Meredith Browning, executive director of PASS. “Seeing hundreds of people invest in the success of our students was exciting, fun and inspiring.”
PASS partners with Carroll County Schools to place student advocates in each local high school, providing individualized support that addresses academic, social and personal challenges students may face.
“Every dollar raised helps us build caring relationships with students and provide the resources they need to overcome obstacles and stay on the path to graduation,” said Browning. “I absolutely love what I do because I have a front-row seat to seeing lives changed and a community rally around young people who deserve every opportunity to succeed. Nights like this remind us that investing in students means we’re investing in the future of our entire community.”
The impact of PASS extends far beyond Ladies Night Out. During the past school year, PASS advocates served 324 students across local high schools. Of those students, 78 were seniors, and each of them graduated, achieving a 100% graduation rate for participants of the program.
PASS continues to meet students where they are every day by providing for their needs through its network of Care Closets, located in six schools within two districts. Stocked through generous community donations, the Care Closets provide students with food, hygiene essentials, clothing, school supplies and other basic necessities. Last year alone, PASS students visited the Care Closets more than 18,000 times, ensuring they had access to the resources they needed to focus on learning and succeed throughout the school year.
“Being a student advocate is a blessing not only for the students we serve but for me as well,” said Laura Thornton, a PASS advocate at Mt. Zion High School. “I have the privilege of making lasting connections with our students and their families, connections that often continue long after graduation. One of the greatest rewards is being introduced to a graduate’s family and hearing them say, ‘Mrs. Thornton is my advocate.’ Moments like those remind me why we are in our schools and why this work matters.”
Browning said the continued support from local businesses, sponsors and volunteers makes PASS’s work possible.
“Events like Ladies Night Out demonstrate the incredible generosity of our community,” said Browning. “Because of that support, we’re able to continue walking alongside students, helping them overcome challenges and ensuring they have every opportunity to reach graduation and beyond.”
To learn more about PASS and its mission to serve local students, visit passwestga.org or follow Partners Advancing Student Success on Facebook and Instagram. For more information about how to donate and further the mission of PASS, visit passwestga.org/donate.
Author: Hannah C James
