Cosmetology Students Use Their Skills to Support Local Nonprofit Gala

Students and staff at Elite Cosmetology School in Palm Desert are giving back to the community by using their professional skills to help a local nonprofit prepare for an upcoming gala. The effort allows aspiring barbers, hairstylists, and makeup artists to gain hands-on experience while making a meaningful impact.

Educators at the school say the initiative is about more than beauty services. It is designed to build community relationships and show students how their talents can help others feel confident and empowered. Instructors and students volunteered their time to provide hair and makeup services for guests attending a gala benefiting the Phenixia Foundation.

The Phenixia Foundation is a local nonprofit that supports children and adults with special needs. Organizers say the partnership has created a unique and meaningful experience for everyone involved, both for those receiving services and for the students providing them.

Educator Dak Hussey says seeing the transformation in participants is especially rewarding. After having their hair and makeup done, guests often leave smiling and visibly more confident, reinforcing the emotional impact of the students’ work.

The gala is scheduled to take place Saturday, January 31, at the Palm Valley Country Club. While the event itself lasts just one evening, school leaders say the lessons learned—confidence, skill-building, and service—will stay with students for a lifetime.