Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Trinity Benitez, 10, of Austintown, gets a new ‘do from Aveda Institute cosmetologist Kelly VanKirk. Thirty girls in grades four through six from the Austintown Local School District were pampered Tuesday at an event organized by the Angels For Kids Foundation
By Elise Franco
AUSTINTOWN
A new haircut and a refreshing facial can do wonders for a young girl’s self-esteem — which is why Girard native Shanyn Flesch treated a group of local girls to a spa day.
Thirty girls in grades four through six from the Austintown Local School District were pampered Tuesday at Casal’s Aveda Institute in the township.
The event, organized by the Angels For Kids Foundation, gave the girls an opportunity to experience a day at the spa, said Flesch, Angels For Kids founder and president.
“We chose girls who face unfortunate circumstances and aren’t able to go to the salon, and gave them a free cut and style, a mini-facial and makeup session,” Flesch said.
She said the girls also went home with a gift bag full of nail polish, lip gloss and other fun treats.
“All the stuff young girls like,” she said.
Flesch, a Girard native, said she created the foundation several years ago to help promote self-esteem in young kids.
“It breaks my heart to see that there are a lot of children who don’t have these kinds of services available to them,” she said. “We promote positive self-esteem and well-being at a young age because that affects them for a lifetime.”
Flesch said she has the salon events throughout Mahoning, Trumbull, Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.
Working with teachers and guidance counselors at the Austintown schools, Flesch said they were able to chose the girls who would participate in the spa day.
Trinity Benitez, 10, of Austintown, is a student at Frank Ohl Intermediate School who said she’s never been to a salon.
“Do you know how long I have waited for this?” Trinity asked as cosmetologist Kelly Van Kirk cut her hair in a style like country-pop star Taylor Swift. “Yay!”
Van Kirk said she’s noticed the excitement of all the girls throughout the event.
“I think it’s the cutest thing ever,” she said. “I don’t think they get to do this at all, so [the event] is good.”
Cindi Miller, Trinity’s mother, said she hadn’t heard of Angels For Kids until her daughter was asked to participate. Miller thinks it’s a great foundation.
“This is a really good thing,” she said. “She’s loving it, and she’s so funny.”
Shylo Chalfant, 11, of Austintown, said she couldn’t pick just one part of the day as her favorite.
“It’s all awesome because I’ve never actually been to a salon before,” she said.