Girls Just Want to Have Fun
High Country Women’s Fund hosts ’80s party

By Tiffany Allison

Ever wonder what happened to tacky trends like spandex and shoulder pads when they go out of style? Nothing, because The High Country Women’s Fund brought both fashionable items back into style during its POP Rocks ’80s party on Thursday, April 2, at the DragonFly Theater and Pub.

Dressed is leopard print, gold spandex, teased hair and high heels these women would have given Madonna and Cyndi Lauper a run for their money. Formed as a subset of the High Country United Way, the HCWF is an organization dedicated to serving women of all ages who are in need of financial and emotional support. POP Rocks was just another example of the HCWF’s dedication to its cause.

Selling more than 200 tickets, POP Rocks made a splash within the community. All proceeds raised from the event are going to further the HCWF’s goal of helping every woman within the community.

“It was a great way to reach a new audience that we may not have reached in the past,” Erin Thompson, member of HCWF and co-planner of the POP Rocks event, said. “It was a way to just get the word out that contributing doesn’t mean that you have to write a huge check. You can do something like this and it still makes a difference.”

And Thompson with her co-planner, Sarah Long, succeeded in their attempt to reach a different crowd. People ranging from age 17 to 70 rocked Mohawks, stilettos, cutoff and mesh shirts, fishnets and most importantly big hair as they danced the night away for a good cause.

No matter the age, the dance floor was packed full of people who were rocking out to music preformed by the Raleigh-based band, The Design. The band decided to perform a special show consisting of eighties hits for POP Rocks. Although they do not usually perform covers, they said they made an exception to support a good the HCWF’s cause. The Design donated 100 percent of T-shirt and album sales to the HCWF.

Raffle tickets were sold throughout the night thanks to local business contributed who contributed. More than 35 prizes were donated and raffled by the end of the night.

“Local business really, really turned out and helped us,” Thompson said. “Everyone was so generous. We had people contacting us saying we want to contribute. I think it’s a tribute to this area’s commitment to the High Country Women’s Fund.”

And for an organization that distributed $80,000 last year to women in the community, the HCWF hopes with fundraisers like POP Rocks they will be able to give more this year.

“We really believe ourselves to be a grassroots organization,” Mary Jo Grubbs, member of HCWF, said. “You can spread awareness in different ways and we thought we would branch out.”

The HCWF will be branching out into the community with its Pop Shoppe for mothers on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10. Childcare will be provided for moms as they shop through Unique Boutique’s gently warn apparel for a little something special to wear. The HCWF is currently accepting donations of gently warn items. Most mothers are under the age of 35. Clothes may be dropped off to Erin Thompson at Black Bear Books. All sizes are needed.

“We try to make it really easy for people to contribute,” Grubbs said. “With the changing of seasons it will really help out tremendously.”

For more information, visit www.highcountrywomensfund.org on the Web.