Eighth Annual Zareinu Fashion Show to Hit the Runway Next Week in Support of Children with Special Needs

TORONTO, ON - October 18, 2011 - On November 16, 2011, some of fashion's hottest designers will join together to raise awareness and funds in support of the students of Zareinu Educational Centre (a unique centre that provides educational and individualized therapies to children with special needs) at the highly anticipated eighth annual Zareinu Fashion Show.

Hosted by the legendary fashion journalist, author, designer and host of CTV's FASHIONTELEVISION Jeanne Beker, this year's show will feature Zareinu students strutting their stuff down the catwalk (in stunning fashions from designers Lil Vogue, Matooka, Devilish Angels and Jaytex by Ben Sherman) hand-in-hand with students from across the GTA to show acceptance between typical kids and those with special needs.

Taking cues from Hollywood's inspirational messages featured in new television shows and film that teach people of all ages to embrace our differences and that our disabilities don't define us, this night will focus on and celebrate the ways in which Zareinu students define themselves.

"My daughter, Julia, has Down syndrome. But that doesn't define her," says Ruth Zive, a mother on Zareinu's board of directors. "Julia is a friend, a sister, a dancer, a math enthusiast, a Justin Beiber fan and a Facebook expert. She is defined as a whole person with a range of interests, skills and talents, and events like this one provide a great forum to celebrate and showcase the definitive qualities of children with exceptionalities."

Along with children's wear designers there will be women's wear collections gracing the runway including fashions from Danier, Divine Decadence, EDIT by Jeanne Beker, Seventy and Shenkin West.

ABOUT ZAREINU:The Zareinu Educational Centre is a world-renowned treatment centre and school that provides individualized therapies and special education to children with a wide range of physical and developmental challenges.

Zareinu's outstanding team delivers innovative therapeutic interventions and programs to meet unique needs of children with disabilities, including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other neurological and developmental impairments. Programs are available for children from birth to 18 years.
For more information, please visit www.zareinu.org.