Hi! My name is Gloria Owczarski. This is my story, I hope you like it! I grew up in beautiful Kailua, Hawaii. I have two sisters, one has special needs. Life could be hard growing up with a sibling who was different from the norm. No one else had a sister like mine. People with disabilities didn't seem to exist in the 80's or so it seemed. Instead of embracing my sister, welcoming all of her special qualities, I repelled against it. Why was I being punished with a sister who needed more help with EVERYTHING??? Like most selfish teenagers, I sulked and resented having a sister who was so different from everyone else's siblings. I was mad at God for doing this to me. It would be years later when I finally "grew up" and realized that I had made an awful mistake about my sister. I was the one with "special needs" and I had so much to learn from my amazing sister Kimmy. She would be the one to make me realize that there are so many wonderful things in life to appreciate, like cookies for breakfast! I have started an event called "Day of Beauty" for kids with special needs. We bring in schools of children with disabilities along with their hard working teachers and give them a total day of much needed pampering and love. The kids get to choose from the following free services, donated by many wonderfully talented and kind hearted service technicians from ALL OVER Atlanta: haircuts, haircolor, facial waxing, manicures, makeup applications and chair massages. For most kids, this is their first experience in a "real" salon. I'm hoping to pass on the wonderful revelation that was given to me from my sister Kimmy to the many wonderful volunteers who come to "Day of Beauty". That we all have so much to learn from these special children. That life is a gift so please unwrap it and enjoy it to the fullest! When you think YOUR life is hard/tough, take a moment to think about what these children have to endure day in and day out yet all it takes is a simple act/gesture of kindness from a stranger to make them smile. We all should remember that. Thank you for your time! Sincerely, Gloria Owczarski "Day of Beauty" 2012 made the CBS New's "Positively Georgia" segment on April 23rd, 2012! Click on the link below! ![]() Getting geared up for "Day of Beauty" 2013- 10th Anniversary event on Monday April 29th at The Paul Mitchell School- Atlanta!"Because everyone deserves to feel beautiful!!" "Day of Beauty" was awarded with the Points of Lights
Institutes daily award for March 10, 2010 Read about it here on the "Hands On Blog"! Another posting from the Points of Light Institute Another blog from Points of Lights Institute Day of Beauty did a Story Corp story for The Point's of Light Institute. "Day of Beauty" made it on CBS News! "Day of Beauty" is on YouTube! This is another GREAT video Lisa Cunningham did of this year's "Day of Beauty" 2012 event for kids with special needs! Thank you Ms. Lisa Cunningham for the above video from last year's event!! Thanks Ms. Denise Hardnett for this great video! The event will be hosted for the 5th time this year again by The Paul Mitchell School- Atlanta which is located at 887 W. Marietta Street, Atlanta 30318 @
The King Plow Arts Center on Ms. Linda Hornik did these fun "Before & After" shots of the kids and volunteers at last year's event I am pleased to announce that the 10th annual "Day of Beauty" will be hosted this year for the 5th time again by The Paul Mitchell School- Atlanta located at The King Plow Arts Center at 887 W. Marietta Street NW Suite A, Atlanta 30318. With a salon floor of about 12,000 square feet, we are looking to do just a little bit more than last year with the amount of participants receiving services this year. Last year we had over 250+ students AND teachers getting complete makeovers. This year we hope to do over 300+ students/teachers total! (This is an invite only event for attendees (people receiving services) at this time and is considered a field trip through the Dekalb Co School system. I hope one day this will be state wide!! How amazing would that be?!?!) All participants can choose from the following services: manicures, facial waxing, highlights, haircuts, chair massages, updos and makeovers. All services are free of charge!
All services are donated by local talent from various Atlanta salons.
Due to the size of this event, I am in serious need of more volunteers in the following areas:
Along with needing volunteers to perform the services, I am also in need of the following items so I can provide breakfast and lunch for all participants along with all of my great volunteers:
With that being said, I would like to say a special "Thank You" to the following contributors who have sponsored my event year after year.
Check out photos below of the "man behind the scenes", my wonderful husband, official "grill master" and most definitely my sanity dispenser! Thanks for all your help!! (He's the good looking one!) :) Former WWE/TNA wrestler "The Relic" also made an appearance and made quite an impression on some of the kids. Definitely wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley somewhere, ha! Ruby The Clown For 12 years Reuben Haller has delighted audiences as a clown, musician, and storyteller in Atlanta. For nine years he has performed for The Big Apple Circus at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospitals, as part of the prestigious 'Clown Care' program. He has clowned for Cirque du Soleil at two special events, including his role as 'Head Clown' for Cirque at the 4 day Grand Opening of The World of Coke Museum. An accomplished violinist and mandolin player, Reuben also created a solo clown show for The Atlanta Symphony's 'Symphony Celebration' in 2005. Reuben is now in his fourth year performing the acclaimed 'Fiddlin' Dan The Mountain Man' storytelling show at libraries throughout Georgia. He performs at hundreds of events each year. ![]() The Clown Virtuoso A family show for Clown and Symphony Orchestra Classical music meets musical mayhem, guaranteed to amaze and amuse! The Clown Virtuoso is a delightful classical music concert for children and adults. Acclaimed Atlanta clown Reuben Haller (Big Apple Circus) is the clown violin soloist, performing with the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mirna Ogrizovic-Ciric. Selections include works by Rossini, Schubert, Handel, Shostakovich and more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb21j2BWID8 A HUMONGOUS "Thanks" goes of course to- The Paul Mitchell School Atlanta. With their amazing staff (pictured below) and their awesome students. With their speed in all the behind the scenes set up, their attentiveness to the needs of all participants and their great, positive energy they gave to my event. Thank you for opening your doors to me and my event when you didn't know what to expect. Thank you for taking a humongous leap of faith!! (The Paul Mitchell Powerhouse Crew- Carole Wingrove, Emily Allen, Memory Gough & Monica McKim,) I want to just say "Thank You" to all who have been there in the past and continue to come year after year. I also want to acknowledge those who have put their faith in me and my event by coming this year and showing up to the unexpected. Thank you for believing! (My sister Kim, me and one of my beautiful Special Olympics swimmers Jenna!) And then I have a very "special" thank you that goes out to my wonderful husband, Greg Owczarski. Without his help, I would never be able to even dream of something as big and adventurous as this. You are amazing and I am so lucky to have you by my side, as my rock. All my love, muaahhh! :D Thank you all so very much! Gloria Owczarski Founder/Organizer "Day of Beauty" Special Olympics Swim Coach This event is dedicated to my sister (pictured on the right) she is my inspiration. I love you Kimmy! For more information about donating products/services for this years event, please email Thanks so much! All items that are not donated do come straight out of my pocket. With the event getting bigger every year, I do have to cover a lot of expenses. If you would like to donate, please call or email! Thanks so much for your help! News
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