Matthew Morris isn’t one to let milestones go unnoticed. He celebrates each anniversary of his hair salon and skin- care business by throwing a big party that’s the talk of the town for weeks.
But it’s not just about him: The events raise money for the scholarship fund he started at the school where he studied for his cosmetology diploma: Emily Griffith Opportunity School.
Morris hasn’t forgotten how the school helped him develop his passion and wants others to be able to do that, as well. After completing his coursework at Emily Griffith, the Boulder native quickly put his talent to use, snipping and styling his way to the upper echelons of the hairdressing world.
He finished third in Season 3 of Bravo’s “Shear Genius” reality show; he is called back year after year to style models and celebrities taking part in New York Fashion Week, and his salon has twice been named Best in Colorado by Elle magazine.
For his Year Five bash, Morris reserved the Infinity Park Events Center for a runway show that paired his hair and makeup with clothes from Aspen- based designer Gabriel Conroy’s Black Forest Immortelle collection.
“When I saw the first few pieces back in March, immediately I knew I wanted to build my anniversary show around his collection,” Morris said. Ideas came tumbling out: “True Blood,” David Lynch, “Six Feet Under,” witches and sorcery.
A recurrent theme was “out of darkness comes the light,” and it applied to both the looks in the show and the spirit of the occasion.
The evening — choreographed by Autumn Binion, styled by Amy Darr and coordinated by Alexan Events — raised $30,000 for the Matthew Morris Scholarship Fund at Emily Griffith.
The 2011 scholarship recipient, Amie Rau, put the merriment into perspective when she shared that she had grown up homeless and the scholarship, which is funding the academic quarter immediately preceding graduation, is giving her the chance to make her dreams come true.
“My sisters and I saw a lot of things people shouldn’t see,” Rau said. “So, yes, this scholarship means the world to me. Matthew, it’s so neat to see you where you are — and hopefully that’s where I will one day be.”
“She’s going to keep Denver beautiful,” Morris predicted.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
