Heidi the… Community Cheerleader
Heidi’s heart to serve is what guides her throughout life. Whenever possible, she utilizes her influence to give back to her community. Take a look at some of her past and present community projects below.
Pep Gally Academy by Heidi Elnora
Built on more than a decade of hands-on teaching and mentorship, the Pep Gally Academy by Heidi Elnora continues Heidi’s mission to give students with a passion for fashion the foundational skills and confidence to explore their creative dreams. Over the years, Heidi has inspired hundreds of aspiring designers from across the country, and Pep Gally Academy carries that legacy forward with a renewed focus on craftsmanship, creativity, and spirit.
Birmingham Fashion Week
Heidi founded Birmingham Fashion Week in 2011 with her childhood best friend, Jeana Lee Thompson to give back to their community and showcase the creative talent in their city. Birmingham Fashion Week has been recognized by local, regional, and national press. Acclaimed designers like Tibi, Show Me Your MuMu, Rebecca Taylor, What Goes Around Comes Around, Rails, Alice and Trixie, and Project Runway winners have all graced the BFW stage.
For the 7 years it ran, BFW provided thousands of dollars in scholarships and gained the attention and ongoing support from accredited colleges such as the Savannah College of Art and Design and the University of Alabama.
Making COVID-19 Masks
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Heidi instantly felt the need to switch gears to best help her community. While she temporarily closed her wedding dress shop, she and her team made more than 15,000 reusable air filter masks, which were given to health care professionals, grocery store workers, police, firemen, and truck drivers throughout the state of Alabama.