HURRICANE KATRINA EVENT

Within days of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating landfall in the Gulf States, a group of over 30 downtown business owners and community leaders sat down in Vincent’s on Grand Avenue to discuss ideas for helping. Eight days later, their efforts resulted in Escondido Cares: Hurricane Katrina Relief, a street-level celebration of New Orleans and Southern culture with 20 bands and performers, 14 restaurants, 20 art galleries, 150 silent auction items, and just under $27,700 in funds raised to benefit the American Red Cross and IFFA hurricane relief campaigns.

Shawna Cruise of The Loft Hair Design and Julianne Jones of Studio 158 and their teams – all outfitted in coveted Escondido Cares black t-shirts — were responsible for bringing people out of their shells with wild hairstyles and fun face painting, great Temecula wines (with help from Melissa Ralston of Shiva), and bringing Big Ernie’s Rib Shack to the party! With the help of the community, The Loft Hair Design was able to raise approximately $2000 to give to the Katrina Relief Fund.