Glam for Good: Work The Runway 2026 Celebrates Fashion, Creativity and Goodwill’s Mission in Oklahoma City
On August 7, The Criterion OKC came alive with fashion, creativity and purpose as Goodwill Central Oklahoma celebrated Work The Runway 2026: Glam for Good.
But this is not your typical fashion show.
Work The Runway is Goodwill Central Oklahoma’s one-of-a-kind fashion event that puts real Goodwill employees, and their stories, at center stage. Styled by trusted local influencers and stylists in looks curated from Goodwill stores, our employee models took to the runway to share their journeys and triumphs with hundreds of supporters.
This year, the runway got an exciting new addition. Through a partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma, eight student designers got the opportunity to transform pre-loved clothing into high-fashion looks for our first-ever student design competition.
A Record-Breaking Night of Support
With over 600 attendees, Work The Runway 2026 welcomed its largest audience yet, continuing an incredible trajectory of growth. Attendance has nearly doubled since 2023, and has since become a stand-out event in Oklahoman City.
That momentum translated into incredible generosity. It made for an unforgettable evening of real people, real stories and real impact, and raised more than $176,000 in support of Goodwill Central Oklahoma and our mission to help Oklahomans overcome challenges to employment.
Thirty sponsors also helped make the evening possible, and even more exciting, 194 new donors engaged with Goodwill through this year’s event.
We are especially grateful to our Couture Level Sponsor, David and Tammie Burrage; Supermodel Level Sponsor, Love Meyer Family Foundation; and Vogue Level Sponsors, Luxiere Magazine and The Chickasaw Nation, along with all of the organizations and individuals who invested in Work The Runway and Goodwill’s mission.
Introducing “Glam for Good”
As we celebrate 90 years of Goodwill Central Oklahoma, this year’s event marked a new chapter for Work The Runway with the introduction of a student design competition in partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma.
Throughout their second semester, eight UCO students were challenged to take pre-loved clothing from Goodwill stores and transform it into original, runway-ready fashion. Inspired by the theme “Glam for Good,” the competition gave students the opportunity to explore what happens when creativity, sustainability and purpose collide.
Along the way, students received guidance from four celebrity judges: Sydnie Peebles, Stacy Johnson, Kourtney Hartenstein and Jakian Parks.
On August 7, all eight designers finally had the chance to see their work come to life on the Work The Runway stage.
The stakes were big, too: the winning student would receive $10,000 and a feature spread in Luxiere Magazine.
And the Winner Is… Bella Orcutt!
Bella Orcutt was named the winner of the inaugural Work The Runway Student Design Competition.
Bella started with something you can find in almost any Goodwill store: men’s denim jeans. Through cutting, layering and dyeing, she transformed that everyday material into a structured, chic runway look.
Her design captured what “Glam for Good” was all about: looking at something ordinary, recognizing its untapped potential and giving it an entirely new life.
The audience had a say in the competition, too. Throughout the evening, guests voted for their favorite student design, raising funds to support Goodwill in the process.
Richard Camancho took home the People’s Choice Award, earning a $5,000 prize thanks to the generous support of OGE.
Congratulations to Bella, Richard and all eight UCO designers who took on the challenge. We’re also incredibly grateful to UCO faculty and our four judges for giving these emerging designers an experience and a runway show they won’t soon forget.
More Than a Fashion Show
The clothes may draw your eye, but the people wearing them are at the heart of Work The Runway.
Throughout the evening, Goodwill employees walked the runway in upcycled looks curated from Goodwill stores by trusted influencers and stylists. More importantly, they had the opportunity to share their stories, journeys and accomplishments with our community.
That combination is what makes Work The Runway special.
When a piece of clothing is donated to Goodwill, its story doesn’t have to end. It can be rediscovered, reimagined and given a new purpose. And every time you donate, shop or support an event like Work The Runway, you help create opportunities for people to write their next chapter, too.
Your Support Creates Opportunity
Every dollar raised through Work The Runway helps Goodwill Central Oklahoma fulfill our mission of helping Oklahomans overcome challenges to employment.
And that impact extends far beyond one night.
In 2025, 4,525 unique individuals were served through Goodwill’s Workforce Development programs. Our Employment Services Centers provided more than 25,000 unique services, from help with resumes and job applications to training and career preparation.
That included 770 verified job placements, with participants earning an average hourly wage of $13.45 and working an average of 33 hours per week. Participants also completed 686 training certificates, while our Employment Services Centers and Employment Services Mobile Unit helped prepare 1,021 resumes and cover letters.
And in 2026, support from our donors and community helped us take another major step forward with the opening of the Goodwill Opportunity Center, a one-stop destination connecting Oklahomans with Goodwill employment services and wraparound resources from community partners.
That’s what your support of Work The Runway makes possible: more training. More resources. More connections. More opportunities.
Thank You for Making Work The Runway Possible
From our employee models and stylists to our student designers, judges, sponsors, donors, volunteers and 644 registered guests, thank you for making Work The Runway 2026 an evening to remember.
And a special thank you to our emcee, Alexis Young, for guiding us through an incredible night at The Criterion OKC.
We walked the runway together, celebrated sustainable style and raised more than $176,000 for a mission that continues long after the lights go down.
