A group of young professionals and a local business owner recently hosted an event, raising $325 to benefit an area nonprofit that aids victims of domestic violence.

Katie Paul, owner of Bardot Hair Salon in downtown Washington, hosted the event, at which 20 of Washington’s Young Professionals attended and donated money to Ruth’s House Domestic Violence Shelter. The group, a division of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce, partnered to host the Wine and Design-themed event dubbed Networking for a Cause, according to Jeanne Niederhauser, business manager at the Chamber.

Niederhauser said the idea came from Paul, who not only wanted to do something to help a nonprofit that supported women, but also saw a need for younger people in the community to get together and participate in a social event that would benefit an area charity or nonprofit. Paul’s mother, an art teacher at Washington High School, came to the event at the salon to guide attendees in painting and designing artworks.

Each attendee paid $20 to participate, and Paul provided beverages for the event. Tables were set up with canvasses and for those that needed inspiration, Paul had bowls available that contained suggestions for color, texture and other ideas, she said. Each participant painted a canvas, showcasing various art forms and styles, and the group discussed ways they could coordinate future events to benefit other area nonprofits like Bright Futures, a networking initiative through a partnership between the Chamber and Beaufort County Schools to provide items to needy students, and the Beaufort County Animal Shelter, to name a few.

“We hope to continue these types of events,” Paul said. “The purpose of this one was really to raise money and start a conversation on where do we go now. It was just a neat way to get people from all different backgrounds, talking about things they want to do. There’s plenty to do and there’s plenty of people in need, you just have to do it.”

Of the ideas generated from the event, the group is discussing possible plans to host a fashion show that would include a partnership between the salon, local boutiques and a local restaurant, Paul said.

Niederhauser said the group is for people between the ages of 18 and 40 and seeks to provide networking opportunities for its members, enhance their leadership skills and become an active voice in the community regarding local issues and needs, which aligned perfectly with the event.

“I just thing it’s awesome (Paul) wanted to do that and spend her time to open her salon to the community and paid for everything and everyone donated $20. She didn’t take anything out to cover expenses. It was just out of the goodness of her heart that she wanted to give back to the community so it was pretty cool. (The Young Professionals) is still a new group, and we’re still trying to figure out the different things we want to do as a group. It’s nice to have someone to head up these kinds of events. (Paul) has kind of taken that role on a little bit.”