Tag: fundraisers

  • The Cabin for CASA – And a Great Video Showcasing What CASA Does

    A few weeks ago I was invited to the premiere of Blueforest Studio‘s inaugural “Blueforest Gives Back” non-profit video project. It was the first time I’ve heard about the great work CASA is doing in the Triangle, so I’m excited to share today both the video and an upcoming fundraiser event the organization is hosting that looks fun and won’t break the bank for donors!

    Watch the video here:

    (Click here to view if you have trouble with the embedded player above.)

    So, about that fundraiser they’re hosting in September:

    Join us for The Cabin for CASA 2.0, a Lynn Robertson DeMent Memorial Fundraiser! 

    Thursday, September 17, 6:30-9:00 p.m. home of Rusty and Nella DeMent – 717 North First Ave., Knightdale, NC 27545 

    Tickets: $40 each, or $75 for two 

    Music and Libations Dinner by 42nd St. Oyster Bar Raffle and Silent Auction Included 

    All proceeds to benefit CASA’s mission to develop and manage affordable housing, particularly for veterans and people living with disabilities. In 2014, the first annual Cabin for CASA raised over $30,000 to support CASA’s mission. Mark your calendars to join us this year!

    Click here to buy tickets, support the sponsors of this event, and more at CASA’s website.

  • Do This Next Weekend: Stamp Out Hunger

    I’m pretty passionate about this topic because I personally feel that food insecurity and hunger are the most embarrassing issues facing North Carolina right now. We aren’t lacking food. (Thanks, farmers!) We aren’t lacking the money, resources, and science to solve this problem. (Like cancer, etc.) This is a fixable issue facing hundreds of thousands of NC families, children, seniors and individuals.

    This is literally the easiest food drive you’ve ever participated in. Simply pick up some extra canned items when you grocery shop this weekend or next week and just leave the extras at your mailbox. So plan on joining in on Saturday, Nay 9 – no matter where you live!
    How easy is it?
    Pack a bag of food and set it by your mailbox on Saturday, May 9! Your local letter carrier will do the rest.
    What should I give?
    Check this list of most needed items and take it with you on your grocery shopping trip! (No glass, please.)
    Where does my food go?
    Although this is a national food drive, all donations made within our region come to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Donated items are provided to the more than 651,000 children, families, and seniors in our 34 counties who are food insecure.

  • Band Together Main Event 2015

    I love live music. I love a great cause. And I have an especially soft spot in my heart for this event because it’s where I fatefully bumped into Johnnie Bud just three years ago and our first date was soon after. #BandTogetherLoveStory right here, y’all.

    Needless to say, you’ll be seeing me on Saturday, June 27, when Band Together’s Main Event takes the stage in downtown Raleigh at Red Hat Amphitheater with Michael Franti & Spearhead.

    I hope you’ll join me in helping Band Together reach their lofty, but attainable, goal of raising $2,000,000 for Step Up Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to helping low-income homeless individuals in the Triangle area become self-sufficient.

  • Paw-fect Valentine’s Plans

    Only rookies will celebrate Valentine’s Day on a Saturday night – instead, consider something fun… and for a great cause – that’s happening on Thursday night: Bark & Wine with Your Valentine 2015

    Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a beer & wine tasting while surrounded by the cutest faces in town! (Bringing a date is completely optional.)
    Fine wines, beer, tasty treats and wet puppy kisses await guests at the 10th annual Bark & Wine with Your Valentine. 
    This unique, intimate event will be held at the SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh on Thursday, February 12 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Sample 6-8 varieties of wine and and light fare to compliment the flavors for just $30.00 per person of which $5.00 is tax deductible.
    Email Vanessa Budnick at vbudnick@spcawake.org or call 919-532-2087 with questions.
  • Raleigh Rotaract to Host Charity Beer Dinner

    Raleigh people – I hope you’ll join me for a great beer dinner on Thursday, Dec. 11!

    The Rotaract Club of Raleigh has announced its inaugural Fall Charity Beer Dinner to take place on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., at Backyard Bistro restaurant in Raleigh, NC.
    The event features five food courses, designed by Chef Joe Lumbrazo (executive chef and owner, Backyard Bistro), that are each complemented by beer pairings donated by Raleigh’s own Big Boss Brewing and Lonerider Brewing companies.
    Raleigh is certainly no stranger to beer dinners, but the charity format is one not often seen. Of the $50.00 ticket price, nearly half of the money raised on ticket sales alone will go directly to this year’s designated charity: camper’s scholarships at Camp Mondamin in Zirconia, NC. This year’s beneficiary was selected in memory for local Rotarian Simon Everett, who died in an accident while working as a camp counselor at Mondamin this past summer. Everett donated his counselor salary to fund campers’ scholarships each summer and Raleigh Rotaract plans to pay that commitment forward with the proceeds from this event.
    In addition to ticket sales, silent auction items will be available for bidding on during the event, including food and beverage experiences, gift certificates to local businesses, and sporting event tickets – all great ways to beat the shopping lines at the mall this holiday season while supporting a great cause.
    Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/raleigh-rotaract-2014-charity-beer-dinner-tickets-13465649119 or RaleighRotaract.org. Discounts are available for tables of four – so plan to attend with friends, because more is truly merrier at this event.
  • Sometimes the easiest way to help is by just showing up

    My colleague Kathy (@Raleighwood) told me about this event earlier, but the thought of exercising for two hours was a little more than I was mentally prepared to commit to on that day. I must have been tired at the time, because when I read her post about tomorrow’s event, I was totally re-energized to be a part. So I emailed my girls and was surprised to hear so many had friends and family affected by MS.

    So, if you’re so inclined to spend two hours and $10.00 to work out and help out, then email and call YOUR pals and join us tomorrow. Here’s the scoop from Kathy’s blog post:

    “My favorite Zumba teacher, Giannina Scattolin, and her crew will be teaching a two-hour Zumba dance party on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Longbranch of Raleigh, 608 Creekside Dr., in Raleigh. The fun is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the National MS Society. Kids under 12 get in free.”

    According to the National MS Society website, “multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another”.

    Hope to see you tomorrow for a little (ok: a lot) of Zumba!
  • Hey Raleighs, What Are You Doing Friday Night?

    One of my gal pals (and fellow local nightlife/restaurant/retail rockstars), Christina G., was kind enough to invite me to Yelp.com’s second annual Open Party, so I thought I’d keep the kindness going and share it with you all, as well!

    This year’s theme is Athletes vs. Mathletes (ummm LOVE it) and from what I hear, Yelp’s local events take good time a whole new level. So as you might imagine, I’m very excited to check out my first event with this group of locals.

    Date: Friday, May 6th
    Time: Public Party Starts at 8pm
    Venue: Crabtree Tavern

    Nick and I went to Crabtree Tavern once during football season to check out their offerings. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t get a chance to blog about it, so I don’t really remember much about the experience – except that I was still working when we got there and I was really impressed when the hostess was able to quickly seat us at a table with a power outlet so I could keep working with my laptop plugged in. I’m a sucker for great service! I’m sure I had a salad, and I would have remembered if it wasn’t good, so I’m looking forward to getting back there on Friday and giving them another try. I’ll make sure to post a review on Yelp after (which will sign up in my blog sidebar here now, too), so I won’t go so long that I forget how it was!

    Do you yelp? If so, here I am. Help me get past the “0” yelp friends icon, please?! 🙂

    PS – Fullsteam Brewery and LoneRider are part of the Friday night shenanigans. If you’re a local beer drinker, that’s likely what I should have started with – because that’s all you needed to hear, right?

    PS #2 – You know I love a good cause! Make a donation to Southern Siberian Rescue while you’re there for a chance to win great door prizes and to collect great Yelp swag. (I can attest to the fine quality of their swag, btw.)

    Cheers!

    (And last, no blog post is complete without a disclaimer these days. I was not contacted by Yelp to blog about this. But, I do know Christina and she did personally invite me out. Personal invitations don’t count as spiffs… at least I don’t think. ;-))

  • Another Simple Holiday Wish List!

    via email forwarded by Brandon (thanks, B!):


    Dear Santa: We’ve Been Good All Year

    While you are out doing your holiday shopping this year, please consider donating a gift to the dogs and cats at the Wake County Animal Center.

    This year, the animals are asking Santa for:
    –Pet shampoo and brushes
    –Cat litter
    –Puppy or kitten formula
    –Paper towels and bleach
    –Blankets and towels
    –Cat and dog toys (dishwasher-safe)
    –Monetary donations

    How could you say “No” to that? I can’t!

    {Image: via Wake Co. Animal Center enews}

  • Breakfast with Santa for FIVE Great Causes!

    Dr. Tinney Railey sent me an email this week asking me to help spread the word about this Saturday’s fundraiser and how could I not with so many great organizations benefiting?

    The Third Annual Charity Breakfast Buffet with Santa
    Saturday – December 11, 2010, 8-11am
    at Spice Street Restaurant in Chapel Hill

    This event is organized by the resident physicians at UNC and this year we are supporting 5 charities: Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, NC Children’s Hospital, NC Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. Last year we had a great event with over $1,000, 400 canned goods, and almost 500 toys donated. This year same great venue and price but we added an additional organization. We are also bringing awareness to Kayla’s Closet, an organization that provides formal dresses to ladies who could not otherwise afford them.

    Kids can take pictures with Santa (skip the mall lines and prices), make ornaments, and enjoy face painting all while benefiting the community. Spice Street will make a monetary donation to be divided between the Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, and NC Children’s Promise for every buffet purchased. We are asking people to bring canned goods or new toys. Adults $10 and kids $5 including tax and gratuity (cash, check and credit cards accepted)!

    Happy holidays, y’all!

  • Make a Difference this Holiday Season

    Seriously y’all, it takes very little effort to do good things. And hey, you might even get to attend a party and see some folks you love in the process!

    Tonight – Thursday, December 2nd, 7:00pm (like head there in the next hour) 😉
    4th Annual Downtown Santa Ball
    The Downtowner Magazine is proud to sponsor our Downtown Santa Ball on Thursday, December 2nd, from 7-10pm in order to help children in need and to provide what might be the only gift they receive this holiday season. We’re pleased to have MeetandCompete.com as a co-sponsor for our fourth year. 100% of proceeds and all gifts will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Wake County. The event will be held at the Union Tavern located in the Depot building of the Warehouse District (directions below). Just bring a gift and enjoy amazing Downtown Raleigh and free beer and wine. Support the Union by purchasing other spirits!

    Thursday, December 9th, 6:30pm
    Jingle Ball 2010
    Get your holly on at this year’s Jingle Ball… and be sure to get there early. Suz and I got there last year as the food was finished and the open bars dry. So we donated, mingled, and headed over to Landmark for a few drinks. Couldn’t complain though, because I was stoked to see the turnout continue to increase for yet another year! I would say that was a mighty successful Thursday night!

    Thru December 18th
    Donate at ANY local Toys for Tots collection point… get the local details at http://raleigh-nc.toysfortots.org/ or find your own local Toys for Tots details (for all of you non-Raleigh folks) online at toysfortots.org!

    All December
    Need stocking stuffers or gifts? For just $13.95 you can get a terrific gift and help Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC with local service projects that benefit women and girls. Auto Bell Car Wash will donate 50% of each Full Service Car Wash coupon purchased. The coupons have NO expiration date and are honored at all 61 locations around the Triangle and the Southeast. To purchase, contact Joyce Rothchild at 919-518-1093 or by email at jrothchild@soroptimistraleigh.org.

    Got more locally awesome ideas for me to share? Send ’em on and I’ll list in a jiff! Email: ncsulilwolf@gmail.com.