Karen Johns Awarded Moreton Bay Citizen of the Year

The Citizen of the Year Award recognises an individual for their outstanding contribution to the Moreton Bay community during the preceding year, or over numerous years. The winner is an inspirational role model for the community and demonstrates a continued commitment to their field.

The 2018 recipient of the award is Karen Johns, founder of Dare Formal Wear, a not-for-profit charity helping victims of domestic violence.

While appreciating that her hard work has been acknowledged, she knows she wouldn’t have been able to make it happen without the help of her volunteers.

“I  accept the award on behalf of DARE’s volunteers and the community support, without it, nothing would happen. Well done! “

Karen launched DARE back in 2014, after living through a domestically violent relationship herself. She felt like there wasn’t anyone there for her and so began her path to what DARE is today.

The concept came to her through a variety of life experiences, one leading to the other. The experience that really set her on her path was when she was received some donated formal dresses. Not knowing what to do with them, she pushed it to the back of her mind. It wasn’t until someone suggested she could sell them online whilst she was trying to assist a woman in need of housing that the idea sprung to life.

Karen is a qualified teacher, with previous pastoral experience and a passion for empowering women. Her goal for DARE has been to fill the gap to connect domestic violence victims to specialist services, whilst offering her unwavering support, regardless of the victim’s decisions.

The formal wear store boasts some of the most stunning gowns around, with not only formal dresses available but wedding and bridesmaids dresses, as well as some more casual dresses for sale. You can complete your look with shoes of every colour and size, jewelry, handbags hairpieces and even race day hats!

DARE generously donates formal wear to teenagers doing it tough, to make sure they look a million bucks after all of their hard work during their school years.

Big Local would like to congratulate Karen and all of the Australia Day Award recipients!

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence you can reach out to Karen via DARE’S Facebook page – www.facebook.com/dareformalwear

To find out more about DARE, visit www.dareformalwear.com.au