Gloria Owczarski

One of the greatest gifts a volunteer can give is not just a dollar, a lesson, or a bit of their time, but a new feeling or confidence in the person they are helping. Gloria Owczarski’s Day of Beauty does this by beauty treatments to kids with special needs. Using her own experience with the special needs population as inspiration, she has inspired others to do the same.

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

This service not only leaves the kids feeling good on the outside, but on the inside as well. Many come from families that cannot afford to take their kids to salons, nor give them the maintenance required of just being a girl. They leave the experience ready to show off their new looks, and share their new confidence with the world.

It is often said that charity starts at home. For Gloria, it didn’t stop there. Inspired by her sister, her hero, Gloria’s doors were opened to not only helping others, but providing an outlet to spread caring and confidence.