Thursday, October 1, 2026
In Long Beach, Ooh la la is synonymous with fashion, and the trendy woman’s boutique located at 134 E. Park Ave. is known for its stylish new items like women’s Cowl Neck Medallion dresses, leather fringe handbags and medium wash distressed denim jeans.
Over the last few years, however, employees at the fashion-forward boutique —one of five locations on Long Island — are gaining recognition for their fund-raising efforts to support Habitat for Humanity and other causes.
“A lot of people underestimate us,” said manager Natalie Orellana. “But all of our stores help out. We’re not just a store - we do a lot and for us, it‘s basically about giving back.”
Last year, Orellana and Jennifer Montiglio, owner of the Long Beach location, along with their Ooh la la colleagues worked with hammers, table saws, nail guns and other tools during their trip to Louisiana, where they volunteered in Baton Rouge for Habitat for Humanity, and during a visit to New Orleans for the New Orleans Mission.
The women participated in a three-day Women Build Habitat for Humanity, where they worked together to build a home for a mother of three children, and did everything from roofing to painting.
“It’s going to be about a year that we’ve been working for Habitat,” Orellana said. “We’re very hands on women and we wanted to show people that we could go out there and volunteer.”
Ooh la la’s efforts to support Habitat for Humanity and the New Orleans Mission are just a few of the charitable initiatives the business has been involved with through its volunteer efforts and fundraisers. Ooh la la has also helped raise money for numerous causes such as suicide prevention, the Michelle O’Neil Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, among many others.
Last month, Ooh la la held its “Friday Night Fever Party,” a 1970s-themed fundraiser held at the Inn to benefit Habitat, where they raised roughly $2,000, one of many fundraisers and events the boutique hosts throughout the year.
