CASA OC Community Partnership Coordinator Misty Webb was making the rounds at Fashion Island to rally participants in a special Fashion Island Spa & Shopping Experience for CASA youth. Three teens were selected to participate in this special day alongside their CASA mentors. When Misty presented her proposal to the staff at LUSH, an organic cosmetics company, one of the team members shared that she too had grown up in foster care. According to Misty, “She was 100% on board and wanted to ensure our youth had the best experience ever. The LUSH team committed to going above and beyond because they understood our youth are very special.”
This Spa & Shopping day came together as part of an ongoing partnership between CASA OC and the Irvine Company Retail Properties which owns Fashion Island. Over the past few years, Fashion Island has hosted the annual CASA OC Pinwheel Project, sponsored gift drives that benefit CASA youth, and held exclusive shopping events with proceeds going to CASA OC.
Through the generosity of Fashion Island, three CASA youth and their advocates were able to experience a day they will never forget which began with breakfast and coffee. The group was welcomed by Fashion Island representatives and everyone received swag bags to start their day. From there, they were off to LUSH where they were met by the enthusiastic LUSH team who kicked off the event with a meet-and-greet that ramped up the energy and engaged everyone in meeting one another and sharing about themselves.
The youth and their CASAs were then pampered with LUSH facials, masks, lip scrubs and offered make-up instruction. They each had the opportunity to make their own signature LUSH bath-bombs and left with gift bags filled with LUSH products.
The next stop was a trip to Blü Nail Bar and Spa where the group was treated to manicures, pedicures and foot scrubs. The day of pampering was not only a treat for the youth, but for their hard-working advocates as well. Mary, a CASA volunteer in attendance with her youth, remarked, “I can’t believe how amazing I feel. This is a great reminder that I need to take time out to care for myself.”
At last it was time for lunch and the group was escorted to THE LOT where they were, “welcomed like rock stars,” according to Misty. The table was beautifully set and the group was treated to five-star service. By then, the youth had formed a friendly bond with one another and continued to share stories and plans about their future throughout lunch. Coincidentally all three plan to attend the same community college in the fall and will all be living in close proximity to one another. By the end of lunch, all had exchanged contact information in order to stay in touch with each other.
After lunch, there was still more fun ahead as Fashion Island gifted each youth a $500 gift card to stock up on supplies for a dorm room or to buy new clothes, shoes or make-up. One youth wasted no time purchasing her favorite Doc Martens which she excitedly put on and modeled for the rest of the group.
One of the youth shared with their CASA that it was, “the best day of their life.”Misty described the day by saying, “It was a very special day none of us will forget. There were so many great connections made and stories shared. Everyone left with new friendships and wonderful memories. We really appreciate how special Fashion Island, LUSH, Blü Nail Bar & Spa, and THE LOT made our kids and our advocates feel.”