Hear Me Roar: Violets’ Giving Circle Empowers Women Through Art, Fashion, and Philanthropy

Written by: Aubrey G. '26

“When one person speaks up, they have the power to awaken the rest of the jungle.” With this message as their tagline, Violets’ Giving Circle (VGC) is hosting their 12th biennial fashion, film, and art event at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles on Sunday, March 16, with their theme being Hear Me Roar.

VGC is a student-run philanthropic organization that operates on school grounds, but fundraises for off-campus nonprofit organizations. It is overseen by Marlborough alumna Amanda Lovrien ’95 and a board of 10 Juniors and 10 Seniors, including VGC Co-Chairs Channing B. ’25 and Jade C. ’25. Every other year, VGC hosts an event where they raise funds for organizations focusing on providing educational opportunities to women who have escaped the cycle of sex-trafficking, homelessness, domestic abuse, and more. To date, VGC has invested $440,000 into the Los Angeles community, and they hope to break the half million dollar mark at their upcoming event.

The event’s theme, Hear Me Roar, is a reference to the chorus of Helen Reddy’s 1972 song, “I Am Woman.” The song is an example of VGC’s initiative to support and uplift women to fight for what they believe in. In line with the theme, the event is being held at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, a location that shares VGC’s intentions of promoting the education and celebration of Los Angeles. The museum is also in Exposition Park, right near organizations that VGC has worked closely with in the past, such as Alexandria House and New Village Girls Academy.

“The Natural History Museum is such an iconic location in LA, and VGC is all about representing LA and our community, especially now more than ever with the Los Angeles fires,” Channing said.

The event will occur in phases, beginning with a cocktail hour that features a silent auction and an art gallery created by students. To the backdrop of the Dueling Dinosaurs Rotunda and the African Mammals hall, 250+ guests will bid on auction items and view the work of over 50 students.

“The reason we have students submit their work to the event and we showcase art, film, fashion, and photography is because our events are all about celebrating education and youth education,” Channing said. “Showing the creativity of our youth at this time is really central to us.”

Following cocktail hour, guests move to a theater space, where they learn about the VGC board and their grant partners right before watching two fashion shows: one featuring student designs and models and another with past VGC grant partners. The student fashion show is particularly central to the show. The VGC board gives students guidelines to design their art in relation to the theme of the event. For this event, student artists are invited to play with bold, vibrant colors, natural prints, unique textures and environmentally friendly materials to be cohesive with the natural world theme. Fashion, and other student works, will be given awards by a panel of celebrity judges present at the event. This year, the panel includes actress on Suits Sarah Rafferty, Outer Banks director Valerie Weiss, actress in A Handmaid’s Tale Ever Carradine, and renowned photographer Alan Silfen.

VGC relies on donations of products and time to help the event run smoothly and to ensure that they can raise as much as possible for the benefit of the women and girls they support. This year, Tower 28 has donated makeup for all fashion show models while Natalie Martin and Steve Madden are sponsoring the clothing for the grant partner fashion show.

Last year, with the funds from their event two years ago, VGC donated $10,000 to six organizations that uplift women and girls in Los Angeles. They hope to do the same and reach new heights as they prepare to celebrate their 20th anniversary of educating, uplifting and supporting the concrete jungle of Los Angeles.

To support VCG and the women of Los Angeles, purchase tickets for March 16's Hear Me Roar event by clicking here.