Fashion With a Purpose

Photos provided by Matthew 25

An annual fashion show celebrates community while supporting Matthew 25’s mission of care, education and hope

Fashion may take center stage at Runway Red, but the real impact happens long after the models leave the runway.

Since 2008, Runway Red has brought Henderson residents, local businesses and community supporters together for an evening of fashion, entertainment and philanthropy. Over the years, the event has become Matthew 25 AIDS Services’ longest-running and largest annual fundraiser, raising awareness and providing essential support for people living with or affected by HIV.

Runway Red returns March 20, 2027, continuing a tradition that celebrates community generosity while supporting a mission that extends far beyond the runway.

The event originated with former Matthew 25 employee Lindy Wicks and intern Alli Willingham, who envisioned a local fashion show that could bring people together for a cause. Sally Welch helped turn their idea into reality, drawing on her experience organizing fashion shows.

Over the years, Runway Red has been held at Worsham Hall, Community Baptist Church and Lumberyard Event Center before finding its current home at the Preston Arts Center.

Although the venues and entertainment have changed, the mission has remained the same.

“Runway Red is a fun night of fashion, but bringing our community together is at the heart of it,” said Rachel Trout, public relations and fundraising specialist for Matthew 25.

For Trout and the Matthew 25 team, the evening is an opportunity to introduce new people to the organization, encourage conversations about HIV and raise awareness of services available throughout the region.

Matthew 25 serves 37 counties across Kentucky and Indiana, providing medical care and support services for people affected by HIV. The organization also offers free HIV and hepatitis C testing and HIV prevention options, including PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, and PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis.

Despite advances in treatment and prevention, misconceptions about HIV remain. Matthew 25 staff members continue to encounter people who believe HIV is no longer a concern or does not affect their community.

Although there is no cure for HIV, modern treatments allow people living with the virus to lead long, healthy lives. Matthew 25 helps patients access treatment and overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from receiving care.

“If someone leaves Runway Red knowing more about their health, our services or how to support a neighbor, that’s an impact we’re proud of,” Trout said.

Fashion Meets Philanthropy

While the mission is serious, Runway Red is designed to be a celebration.

Each year, local boutiques and retailers showcase upcoming spring and summer fashions, with models bringing their own personalities to the runway. Participating businesses typically select three or four models, and organizers work to ensure the show reflects the diversity of the community Matthew 25 serves.

Models even choose their own runway songs, adding an entertaining and personal touch to the evening.

A little friendly competition also helps fuel the fundraising.

Before the event, models are encouraged to collect donations, with the top fundraiser earning the title of Queen or King of the Runway. The competition extends the event’s reach beyond the audience, introducing more people to Matthew 25 and encouraging them to support its mission.

Organizers also find creative ways to keep the experience fresh. Past shows have featured dinner on the stage, silent auctions, photo opportunities, dessert tastings from local bakers, musical performances, dancing and unexpected surprises.

Beyond the entertainment, Matthew 25 uses the occasion to debut its annual report, offering guests a closer look at the organization’s accomplishments, services and ongoing needs.

Runway Red has also earned local recognition for four consecutive years, reflecting the community enthusiasm surrounding the event.

A Community Effort

The runway show may last only one evening, but bringing it to life requires months of planning and countless helping hands.

A committee of Matthew 25 team members, led by Trout, works alongside volunteers, sponsors, participating boutiques, models, emcees and local businesses to coordinate the event.

Matthew 25 founding CEO Cyndee Burton, current CEO Courtney Woolfork and the organization’s board of directors have also played important roles in supporting Runway Red and its growth.

But after nearly two decades, Trout said the list of people who have contributed to the event is far too long to name.

Every business that has sponsored the show, every model who has walked the runway, every volunteer who has worked behind the scenes and every guest who has purchased a ticket has helped make Runway Red what it is today.

“It truly takes a community to bring Runway Red to life, and we can’t thank that community enough,” Trout said.

That support carries special significance because Henderson is where Matthew 25 began.

“Henderson has embraced this event and our organization year after year, and we’ll never take that for granted,” Trout said.

More Than a Fashion Show

Some of Runway Red’s most memorable moments have had little to do with fashion.

At one recent event, the spotlight turned to the life and legacy of Bill Kaelin, a former Matthew 25 nurse practitioner who had died the previous year.

Kaelin’s passing was deeply felt by the patients and colleagues who knew him. His family and close friends attended a tribute featuring music, photographs and stories highlighting the difference he made through his work.

Because Kaelin had kept much of his professional life private from his family, the tribute offered a meaningful opportunity to share the impact he had on others.

The evening also included a poetry reading reflecting on Matthew 25’s history, the progress made during its 30 years of service and the importance of continuing its mission.

For those involved, the tribute served as a reminder of the individuals and families whose lives are touched by the organization.

“Moments like those remind us that Runway Red is about the people at the heart of our mission,” Trout said.

Making a Lasting Impact

While Runway Red provides an evening of entertainment, the money raised helps meet real needs throughout the year.

Proceeds directly support Matthew 25 programs and services for people affected by HIV. In recent years, fundraising efforts have helped establish the Matthew 25 Pharmacy and provide medication assistance for patients.

Each year, the organization also highlights a particular need during the event, allowing guests to see how their contributions can make a difference.

But for Trout, the success of Runway Red cannot be measured by fundraising totals alone.

The organization also hopes guests leave with a better understanding of HIV, greater awareness of available services and a willingness to help reduce the stigma surrounding the virus.

For those attending for the first time, Trout encourages them to enjoy the fashions, music and energy of an evening that brings people together for a shared purpose.

“We want first-time guests to have a genuinely fun night and leave knowing more about Matthew 25 and the people their support helps,” she said. “Come for the fashion, get involved for the impact.”

Whether someone purchases a ticket, makes a donation, volunteers or simply shares information about Matthew 25, each act of support contributes to the organization’s work.

As Matthew 25 celebrates 30 years of service, Runway Red continues to demonstrate what can happen when a community comes together for something bigger than itself.

“When you support Runway Red, you’re making a difference for real people right here in our community,” Trout said. “Matthew 25 is still here 30 years later because people in Henderson have continued to show up for our patients and for one another.”

For more information about Matthew 25 or to learn more about the next event please visit: matthew25clinic.org.