One of the greatest gifts volunteers can give is not money, a lesson, or a bit of time, but a new feeling or confidence in the person they are helping. “Day of Beauty” does this by offering beauty treatments to young adults with special needs and their teachers at no cost to the students or their families.

Growing up with a sister with Down Syndrome, “Day of Beauty” founder Gloria Owczarski has always had an interest in the success of special needs individuals. Already a swim couch for the Special Olympics, Gloria decided she could do more. Organizing stylists and service technicians in the Atlanta area, Gloria created a Day of Beauty to give kids with special needs and their teachers a day of massages, manicures, haircuts, styling, and other beauty treatments.

The volunteers participating in a Day of Beauty each year notice that their service not only leaves the participants feeling good on the outside, but on the inside as well. Many of the participants have never been to a salon, let alone experienced the attention and care given by the volunteers of a Day of Beauty. Participants leave the experience ready to show off their new looks, and share their new confidence with the world.

The volunteers with Day of Beauty believe in their power to change the world. They demonstrate compassion and grace with the students and teachers involved in Day of Beauty and empower the participants to leave with a renewed sense of confidence and positive outlook on the world.