About Us
Mission Statement
MimiLou Designs is a not-for-profit organization that transforms used pointe shoes into decorative items, night lights, lamps and chandeliers to assist ballet companies with fundraising and community outreach programs benefiting at-risk, inner city and underprivileged children and senior citizens.
Our Vision
MimiLou Designs is committed to opening the door of the Arts to all children, inspiring and encouraging them toward a greater appreciation of music and dance.
Membership
Open to patrons and volunteers from all of the fine arts.
History
MimiLou Designs was established in 2007 in honor of Louise Preston Haynes (1902-1987), a dedicated teacher of physical education and dance. In just a few years, we have helped provide ballet tickets and product donations to over 6,000 students, teachers and mentors, critically ill and senior citizens each year through the following service projects.
- Africa and Myanmar Refugees
- The Alzheimer’s Memory Walk
- Ballet Concerto
- Bea’s Kids
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Buckner’s Children and Family Services
- Cowart Kidz Choir
- Dallas Repertoire Ballet
- Down’s Syndrome Guild of Dallas
- Found/ Care/ CAP
- Fort Worth Independent School District
- John Paul II High School
- Jonathan’s Place
- Make A Wish Foundation
- Metropolitan Classical Ballet
- New World Ballet
- Our Friends Place
- Pi Beta Phi
- Premier Ballet
- Prestonwood Court Assisted Living & Memory Care
- Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theater
- Sideman Productions
- Texas Delta Pi Beta Phi First Book Project
- Wednesday’s Child
Current Projects
MimiLou Designs “Seats for Shoes”
This is an incentive program offered to select ballet companies who agree to provide free tickets to approved outreach partners. Participating ballet companies will receive one decorative shoe at no cost to sell in their gift shops for each pair of used pointe shoes donated to MimiLou for recycling.
Ballet Concerto
Ballet Concerto is a ballet company in Fort Worth, Texas providing free ballet performances and information to thousands of school children each year. MimiLou Designs is proud to assist Ballet Concerto in their fund raising and community outreach programs.
Funding
All materials and labor used to produce these products are donated by individuals. One hundred percent of proceeds are used by ballet companies to provide production support and performance tickets as part of approved community outreach programs.
Leadership
Sherolyn Merrick - President
As founder and President of MimiLou Designs, Sherolyn has spent the past seventeen years assisting ballet companies in a wide variety of fundraising efforts. She has served on the board of several ballet companies and contributed her time to various philanthropic arts organizations. Prior to this, she had a successful career in the insurance industry, operated her own insurance agency and ran a leading Internet marketing company with her husband Richard.
Ronda Cook - Vice President
Dr. Regina Powe
To create a program tailored for your organization, please contact Sherolyn Merrick at the email below.