DC Fashion Show Raises Money for Young Entrepreneurs

The hottest “nerds” in the Washington area put their calculators away to strut their stuff on the catwalk as models in Microsoft’s third annual “Geek 2 Chic” fashion show held at Bloomingdale’s.

The hottest “nerds” in the Washington area put their calculators away to strut their stuff on the catwalk as models in Microsoft’s third annual “Geek 2 Chic” fashion show Wednesday night, raising money for young entrepreneurs interested in starting their own innovative businesses.

“Getting youth jobs and giving them technical skills and giving them the ability to launch their own businesses is good for Microsoft, it’s good for our business partners, our whole industry and just good in general,” said Mark Drapeau, director of innovative engagement for Microsoft, of the fundraising event he started in 2010.

The Bloomingdale’s department store hosted the fashion show and proceeds are donated to the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a nonprofit that teaches students in low income communities how to start and run their own businesses through entrepreneurial education.

For many of the male models, who donned the latest fashion trends from Bloomingdale’s, it was their first walk down the runway since many of them are entrepreneurs who have started their own technology companies or work for high profile businesses, such as Facebook.

 

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

The hottest “nerds” in the Washington area put their calculators away to strut their stuff on the catwalk as models in Microsoft’s third annual “Geek 2 Chic” fashion show Wednesday night, raising money for young entrepreneurs interested in starting their own innovative businesses.

“Getting youth jobs and giving them technical skills and giving them the ability to launch their own businesses is good for Microsoft, it’s good for our business partners, our whole industry and just good in general,” said Mark Drapeau, director of innovative engagement for Microsoft, of the fundraising event he started in 2010.

The Bloomingdale’s department store hosted the fashion show and proceeds are donated to the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a nonprofit that teaches students in low income communities how to start and run their own businesses through entrepreneurial education.

For many of the male models, who donned the latest fashion trends from Bloomingdale’s, it was their first walk down the runway since many of them are entrepreneurs who have started their own technology companies or work for high profile businesses, such as Facebook.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

The fashion show was held to raise money for the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a nonprofit that teaches students in low income communities how to start and run their own businesses through entrepreneurial education.

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© RIA Novosti

Each year, Microsoft teams up with Bloomingdale’s, which hosts the fashion show and donates proceeds from the night to the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

Mark Drapeau, director of innovative engagement for Microsoft, started the fundraising event in Washington in 2010, and it is also now held in Chicago and Santa Monica, California due to its popularity.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

Adam Conner, manager of public policy for Facebook, was one of the male models who donned the latest fashion trends during the event.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

Patricia Eisner (far right), executive director of NFTE, said after the event, “I thought the models were really fun, and to see them supporting the kids and NFTE is great to see. Microsoft and Bloomingdale’s have been wonderful partners.”

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

For many of the models, including Sergio Rodriguera, it was their first walk down the runway since many of them are entrepreneurs who have started their own technology companies or work for high profile businesses, such as Facebook.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

17-year-old Sean McElrath co-founded the educational start-up Hallway, gives an audience member a high-five during the light-hearted and fun runway show.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

Jordon Brooks, one of the stars of the night, is a student who has benefitted from NFTE, and is now the CEO of his own company, Threshold Graphics.

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© RIA Novosti . Jaclyn O'Laughlin

“We recognize that our careers right now are because of the innovative spirit of entrepreneurs who founded our companies. So, to raise money for a good cause forming the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs is right in keeping with the missions of our companies,” said Adam Sharp, head of government, news and social innovation for Twitter.