The second annual Express to Success Charity Fashion Show raised $5,777 for Becky’s House last Thursday. Becky’s House provides shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

ETS student models walked the catwalk in Revelle Plaza Cafe in this year’s event, which was themed “”Remember the Time… 80’s Flashback,”” and was followed by a raffle drawing and a free dance sponsored by Club 911.

Among the most desired raffle prizes were Palm pilots, TVs, A-parking spaces, and gift certificates that were given away.

The annual event was designed to culminate all the skills students have learned through ETS and to give back to the San Diego community. Members of ETS work on inter and intra-personal communication skills and persuasive and demonstrative speaking skills through various activities during the year.

Co-host Monica Zakowski, and ETS alumna said, “”It is a big step for members working on their communication skills. Getting up there on the runway gives them self-confidence.””

She added that the event demonstrated that the San Diego community has an interest in helping out those in need. “”College students care about raising money for a good cause and are willing to help,”” she said.

The event was sponsored by Activation Energy Productions, which is a SOLO organization. The La Jolla Country Day School also helped to raise approximately $1,500 for the show.

Revelle sophomore Diana King explained that there were many facets to the show that she and other students were involved in, such as promotion, ticket selling, planning, stage setup and production. She said that the efforts of the students helped bring students from other colleges to see the fashion show at Plaza Cafe.

The fashion show brought attention to the serious issue of domestic abuse. In 1999, 181 calls of domestic violence were reported in San Diego. In a national survey, approximately 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.

Abuse is also an issue for college students. One quarter of female college students have been victims of sexual assault or survivors of the attempted assault. Of these victims, 90 percent have known their assaulters.

The YWCA, which coordinated the project, also offers supportive services such as psychological and educational counseling, child care and job training for victims of domestic abuse.