Former San Luis Obispo County resident Kimberly Victor’s nonprofit Fashion for a Purpose is set to be reborn in Nipomo as Lumina Days—a fashion show that ultimately helps survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence.
“This event has always been in South County,” Lumina Alliance Development Director Brandee Brown-Puett said. “We do have our transitional housing in Grover [Beach] and just to kind of build community connections in South County since our Lumina Nights has always been in North County.”
Lumina Days will make its debut on Oct. 4 at the Dana Adobe in Nipomo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Table sponsorship and ticket sales will benefit the more than 2,000 people who turn to Lumina Alliance for help every year. In fiscal year 2024-25, the nonprofit received more than 2,000 calls to their crisis line and provided more than 17,000 services, according to Brown-Puett.
“Currently, we’re operating as if we’re going to lose half of our federal funding,” she said. “Just to keep our doors open, we’re having to raise an additional $1.7 million every year.”
That money supports the 24/7 crisis hotline, advocacy work, free trauma-informed therapy services, free emergency shelter services, transitional housing, and free prevention services conducted in schools.
Lumina Days is the daytime and sartorial counterpart to the Dancing with the Stars-inspired Lumina Nights, which raised more than $500,000. Instead of local personalities cutting a rug, Lumina Days will feature fashionistas walking the runway.
Grover Beach Mayor Kassi Dee and SLO County 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg are poised to model looks curated by several South County boutiques. Brown-Puett told New Times that Lumina Alliance is finalizing the businesses. Fourth District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding will serve as concierge.
“He will be pouring wine and taking care of our guests and doing all that for tips to benefit Lumina,” Brown-Puett said.
Lumina Days guests can also shop at Muse Markets, drink local wines, and enjoy a catered lunch during the fashion show. Each ticket includes a Lumina Days shopping tote and an event-branded wine glass to take home and use as they taste local wines throughout the event.
With KZOZ-FM 93.3 Program Director and radio DJ Suzanne Schonig as the emcee, attendees will get to listen to stories narrated by a survivor.
Faced with a bleak funding future, Lumina Alliance—the only nonprofit in SLO County that serves sexual and intimate partner violence survivors—also hopes to raise more money through its Light the Way campaign.
It aims to raise $5 million over the next three years to keep Lumina Alliance running.
According to national data, 1 in 4 women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Twenty-six percent of children are exposed to domestic violence.
“Based on these figures, that means potentially more than 35,000 women and nearly 13,000 children in our community have been impacted,” Brown-Puett said. “The campaign is a commitment to ensuring that no one in our community is forced to face violence alone.”
Find more information on tickets or becoming a sponsor at event.auctria.com/7bfe4aa3-1da3-4dbb-9ef4-8920f45e12e5. Donations can be made to Lumina Alliance at luminaalliance.org.
Fast facts
• 5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) Executive Director Janna Nichols, who oversaw the implementation of projects like the South County Warming Center and the temporary housing shelters in Grover Beach, will step down from her 13-year-old role at the end of the year. Associate Director Devon McQuade will succeed her on Jan. 1, 2026. McQuade spearheaded initiatives for 5CHC like the California COVID Rent Relief program and the Point-in-Time Count Homeless Census and Survey.
• The Land Conservancy of SLO County partnered with volunteer Chris Strodder to publish a book called The Official Field Guide to the Pismo Preserve. The handbook details the trails and corners of Pismo Preserve, while exploring the area’s history and noting the flora and fauna visitors could encounter. The book is available for $10 on Amazon. Δ
Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in 55 Fiction 2025.