Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 3 months, 1 week ago at 7:20 pm. 0 comments
Hello Everyone! We’ve had some technical difficulties recently with this site and as a result, we haven’t been around for a while. Our apologies. We do hope you’ve been keeping up with us on Twitter and on Facebook these last few months though!
@MarcieBarnes @AllThingsFadra @CharityJen at the Food Bank Mixer 2011
As a culminating event for the Center’s two-day work with the Boys & Girls Club, this is an opportunity to raise awareness and support for the organization through attendance and Tweeting about the cause.
For every tweet on October 25th between 6 – 10 p.m. (est) containing both @eyecare2see and @WakeBGC, eyecarecenter will donate $5 to the Boys & Girls Club in Raleigh (up to $500).
Attendees – Tweet Divas AND (also for the FIRST TIME EVER) Tweet “Dudes” – will mix and mingle with those they converse with online in a casual offline setting complete with an added bonus of prizes and giveaways!
Some prizes include:
1 pair of Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses
1 pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses
1 pair of Oakley Kate Voegele Beckon sunglasses
1 pair of prescription progressive lenses
4 light style comfy t-shirts personalized for the event
4 Oakley t-shirt
But, it’s not about the prizes. It’s about giving back, right?
Please join us NEXT Tuesday night! Light refreshments including a selection of red and white wines, beer, cheese & crackers, chips & dips, etc. will be served. Register here: http://eyecarecenter.eventbrite.com/
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 9 months ago at 11:53 am. 0 comments
Our Triangle ladies who tweet, who use social media to build online relationships and communities, continue to raise the bar of generosity!
On Tuesday, April 19th twenty (20) Triangle women gathered together for our first evening event of 2011 mixing and mingling among each other all the while raising awareness and donations for three worthy Triangle area women’s shelters-
We purposely chose those three charities and the suggested donation simply because of a past blog post by a Triangle resident who made us aware of the issue. As we watched the women enter Tir Na Nog for the evening, they brought bags and bags of donations containing women’s bras, panties, and PJs totaling upwards of $565 worth. Did we say 20 women? Yes, we did!
Donations for 3 Women's Shelters in the Triangle
One of the best things about being a Tweet Diva is that we get to make a difference to our community. Our motto is “Because our worth is far and above 140 characters” after all.
Thank you to every single lady that came out that evening and to the representatives of DCRC, Harbor Inc, and Interact for joining us. We appreciate all that you each do for your respective communities.
No woman should live in fear, feel unworthy, or unloved. Together, our Triangle Tweet Divas showed that we support the efforts of each of the charities in which we donated. Good stuff! Good stuff.
Stay tuned for information about our next official evening event tentatively schedule for June 2nd.
In the meantime, we encourage you to attend the Triangle Tweetup – the LARGEST gathering of Triangle area Tweeters (men and women) that occurs each year. As in previous years, it will take place at sponsor – Bronto – headquarters in the American Tobacco District in Durham on May 19th. For more information, check out the Eventbrite RSVP. Hope to see YOU there!
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 9 months, 4 weeks ago at 9:00 am. 0 comments
Women don’t want to imagine ourselves in situations where we feel powerless to stop the violence that embraces a home. We hear stories all the time about our own kind getting battered, beaten, bruised, and having to take shelter in an undisclosed location just to heal physically, emotionally, spiritually, and to find a way to get back on their own two feet to make a fresh start. Can you imagine? I can’t.
Those of us that are fortunate enough to be in loving homes where we are valued and loved as much as we value and love our families (especially our spouses) can do something to assist those that are struggling to make that fresh start. For our first evening gathering of 2011, we are going to get “intimate” to help those women less fortunate than we.
As we usually do, we will mix and mingle with the women we have built relationships online in a casual offline setting. Also as usual, food and drink is on your own. But, for the first time since the inception of Tweet Divas we will collect NEW intimate apparel that will be donated amongst three charities in the Triangle -
Please bring NEW bras, underwear, or pajamas in ANY size, including for those in the larger set, a size that is often forgotten when donations for each of these organizations are received.
In the past, we have donated gently worn women’s professional dress for similar use. The idea for a more “intimate affair” came to me after reading this blog post by Will, a senior web developer at Capstrat who spent one week this past holiday season living “Homeless for the Holidays”. Ever since I read that particular post, I’ve been wanting the women of the Triangle to make an impact for other women in the Triangle by collecting women’s undergarments that are so desperately needed.
Please join us for “An Intimate Affair” on Tuesday, April 19th. To REGISTER click this link – http://tweetdivasintimateaffair.eventbrite.com . Registration is limited to 50so be sure to register early!
We have the power to make a difference in our community. You are more fortunate than you probably realize. Please help others who are not. Join us on April 19th. Hope to see you then!
(Note: if you are unable to donate but wish to attend, you ARE more than welcome! Times are tough. We certainly recognize that. Your attendance and support is greatly valued regardless if you are able to make a contribution. Thank you!)
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 10 months, 2 weeks ago at 5:06 pm. 1 comment
Before we begin with details on this very cool upcoming event, let us share a bit of wonderful news from a personal nature.
As you notice, the Divas hadn’t had a chance to gather since our FANTASTIC New Year’s Luncheon in January. This is because our Founder, Lisa Sullivan, has spent some much needed time pursuing and consequently, gaining full-time employment (YAY for Lisa!). Lisa is the one who spearheads this organization and hasn’t had an opportunity to devote the time she normally does. That’s all about to change as the Divas resume, starting with this next event taking place NEXT week.
TWEET DIVAS SUPPORT RALEIGH TWESTIVAL
March 24th at The Hive at Busy Bee Cafe in Raleigh
Put your tweets to work for a good cause at the 2011 Raleigh Twestival® presented by the Busy Bee Cafe on Thursday, March 24 at 7:00 pm. Meet-up with your favorite tweeps for an evening of fun and raising funds for local nonprofit ME³. We’ll have great raffle items plus more surprises at this feel good event.
Tickets are just $5 and all of the evenings proceeds goes directly to ME³. Buy your tickets at http://raleigh.twestival.com and follow all the Twitteriffic fun at @raltwestival.
2011 Raleigh Twestival® is supporting the local nonprofit ME³ which connects individuals and groups to volunteer opportunities with local nonprofit partners. For more information about ME³ and what they do check out their website http://www.me-3.org.
Twestival® (or Twitter Festival) uses social media for social good by connecting communities offline on a single day to highlight a great cause and have a fun event. Twestival is the largest global grassroots social media fundraising initiative to date. Since 2009, volunteers have raised close to $1.2 million for 137 nonprofits. All local events are organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all ticket sales and donations go direct to projects.
This is a GREAT cause to associate ourselves with as it’s all about raising awareness and funding through the connections we make on Twitter. Please join us NEXT Thursday night!
In the meantime, stay tuned for another BIG announcement in the next couple of weeks for our next social gathering that’s all about us and the cause we will support in April. Stay tuned here, Twitter, or through our Facebook Page.
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 1 year ago at 3:56 pm. 0 comments
I trust everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season as you gathered with family and friends, ate LOTS of scrumptious foods, and I sure hope Santa was good to you too!
I’m really excited about this year as I have been making plans for our Divas and the charities we’ll support. I have a rough sketch of the entire year ready to go and will be releasing the first six months of dates & charities very soon (I had hoped to release them last week but the schedule would not allow me to).
This year we’ll be branching out a little with evening gatherings scheduled for downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Smithfield, and possibly Wake Forest/North Raleigh in February, April, & June, late August/early September, and November. The charities we’re supporting run the gammut but will definitely include one of our favorites – The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. In this economy, the Food Bank has become a staple (pun intended) and rightfully so. Too many families –some our next door neighbors–rely heavily on them.
Lisa's salad at The Pit, January 2010
Our FIRST gathering of the year is our New Year’s Luncheon and just like last year, will take place at the famed, The Pit authentic barbecue restaurant in downtown Raleigh:
In the meantime, hope you’ve gotten your new year off to a GREAT start both professionally AND personally. Remember, our worth is far and above 140 characters. Make it count! Do something for someone else today. It’ll make you feel good! I promise.
Though the numbers were smaller than usual (thanks to three additional events going on the same night), the intimate setting made for some lively conversation while allowing the ladies to connect (or reconnect) with those they already know online.
Ilina Ewen, Jennifer Newmeyer, & Heather O'Sullivan
Thanks to a suggestion by “charter” Diva, Ilina Ewen (@Ilinap), we spent a few moments introducing ourselves to the group. New connections were made (including some possible collaborations), super interesting stories were told, and the laughter could be heard across the restaurant (OK…maybe I’m exaggerating that last part.).
This was probably one of our BEST Tweet Divas events to date…and I really can’t explain why. To watch the ladies get to know each other a little better, realize they have common interests, to watch them collaborate on solutions to some of the problems plaguing our local society, to watch them laugh, all of it was truly special.
Ilina told us a heart-breaking story of a homeless mother & 4 children living in their car that she knows personally. We all talked about solutions and Jennifer Newmeyer (@CharityJen & @FoodBankCENC) followed up with an email today with some local charities that might be able to assist them.
AlishaTV all smiles
Alisha Whiteway (@AlishaTV) shared her tale of having recently interviewed Stacy London from What Not to Wear during the Grand Opening of the New Tanger Outlets. While the story in and of itself was interesting, later she and Kelly Duffort (@KellyDuffort) connected to talk collaboration for a project Alisha’s working on.
Danielle Baldwin (@LDBaldwin) shared how some pieces of her jewelry collection were recently sold. Danielle works full-time for UNC-G, monitors 24 Twitter accounts (some for her day job and others for on-going clients/interests), recently took up Yoga, and somehow finds time to design jewelry. More than that, Danielle has a HUGE heart and is often giving her time, talents, or resources for causes she believes in.
One of my favorite stories from the night was meeting Erica Strother (@ens0204) and discovering that her father, a Methodist Minister, is heading down to Haiti today to begin construction on an orphanage that was destroyed during the January Quake. Turns out the orphanage is the very one our special guest Helen Little of Horne United Methodist Church in Clayton, North Carolina told us of back in February during our “Tweet Divas 4 Haiti” event. That night we raised $400 for their orphanage. It’s not only nice to hear about the progress but absolutely amazing to have met Erica, a connection to the very same cause. Small world.
Donations for Abbey Gail's Re-Chic Boutique
These are just a few examples of some of the intimate conversations that took place last evening. Add to that the 8 stuffed bags of clothes (remember, there were only 15 people in attendance!), several bags of canned goods or the Food Bank, it was truly a remarkable evening.
We have hosted 8 Tweet Divas gatherings (6 on our own and 2 co-sponsored) in the last year. During that time we have raised close to $1500 (including last night’s donations) for worthy women’s causes in our community. Each of our gatherings is always full of amazing, talented, wonderful women who have a heart for connecting, being connected, & giving back.
If you haven’t attended one of our events but have been meaning to, we hope you will join us in 2011. Last night’s was our last “official” gathering of the year. We’ll be working on a more solidified Calendar for 2011, including dates, new places to gather, and new charities to support. Keep watching this site for more details.
Dawn Crawford, Fadra Nally, and organizer, Lisa Sullivan
In the meantime, whether you attended or missed last evening, here are some links to upcoming networking gatherings that include a charitable cause, each of which was mentioned:
The #Movember Gala, supporting our Triangle men who are fundraising for men’s Cancer research, awareness, and a cure will take place on November 30th at Crabtree Tavern. Limited tickets available so hurry up & get yours!
Merry Mingle on December 2nd at Brier Creek CC, sponsored by 5 leading Triangle-area professional organizations and supporting the Interfaith Food Shuttle. Tickets are also going fast for this so hurry!
“Be a Kid’s Santa for the Holidays” organized by the Raleigh Jaycees, supported by the Raleigh Events for a Cause Meetup group, needs 100 Chaperones for the afternoon of December 12th for gift-giving & merriment for needy children in our community.
And that’s all she wrote!
The Tweet Divas wish you & yours the happiest of holiday seasons. May you experience the blessings and joy of what the Season means. Please don’t forget about the less fortunate in your community too. Give your time, talent, and/or resources to make someone else’s life a little merrier this holiday season.
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 1 year, 3 months ago at 1:09 pm. 0 comments
Courtesy of Paw Prints
In August, we partnered with the Garner Citizen for their first ever “Citizen Social” where not only did we get a chance to meet the staff of one of the BEST local newspapers in town, mix & mingle, and race cars, we also raised awareness and funds for a very worthy cause, albeit a four-legged one. The folks from Paw Prints Animal Rescue sent us a note of thanks last month. My apologies for the delay in posting.
Dear Lisa Sullivan,
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you & your organization for its sponsorship in the Garner Citizen Social and the associated contributions 46072 to Paw Prints Animal Rescue, Inc. as a result of this event. Paw Prints Animal Rescue is an all volunteer 501(c)3 public charity. Your donation is very important to us and will assist Paw Prints Animal Rescue in our efforts to reduce the population of homeless cats, kittens, dogs and puppies.
Our Commitment – Paw Prints Animal Rescue makes a lifetime commitment to each animal it rescues and places through adoption. We never want these animals to be homeless again. We are committed to doing all we can to stem the tide of homeless animals by requiring that all animals adopted from our program be neutered or spayed.
You have now invested in the future of many homeless dogs and cats. Only through making connections between animals and members of the community can we begin to make a real difference. Thank you again for your donation. Through caring citizens such as you, we are able to work towards our vision of every homeless cat and dog being placed in a safe, nurturing and loving family.
Thank you again for honoring our efforts and simultaneously celebrating community.
Sincerely,
Cindy Moore, Board Member
Paw Prints Animal Rescue
While this was not one of our usual women’s causes, it was a great opportunity to participate with the Garner Citizen and we do look forward to partnering with them in the future.
Courtesy of Paw Prints
Our motto – “Because our worth is far above 140 characters”
Thanks to all who attended and/or donated to Paw Prints. We and they appreciate your support!
Our last lone event was held in May. Since then, we’ve co-sponsored events with the Food Bank (June) and with the Garner Citizen (August). While each of those events were incredibly fun AND successful, it’s time we Divas enjoyed an evening just for us!
Come for a delicious cocktail or a delectable treat from the Hi-5 menu, meet some new friends or mix and mingle with those you know.
The “Beans”
We’re just weeks away from the holiday season. Some of us will sit down with our families and have complete holiday meals with turkey and all the fixings while others in our community won’t be as fortunate. Let’s turn that around! Let’s help our local moms and their families put food on the table. Bring whatever you can from this list ofMost Needed Itemsfor the Food Bank and we’ll deliver them!
The “Beauty”
Before you get there, take a good look at your closet. We’ll bet you have one or two items of gently used professional clothing (or accessories) you can donate to Abbey Gail’s Re-Chic Boutique. Abbey Gail’s is a partnership with the Women’s Center of Wake County. By donating your gently used items to this worthy cause, you help women who are transitioning back into the working world often from difficult circumstances. Abbey Gail’s was our very first charity. Now is a good time to re-visit and donate!
That’s it! There isn’t a cover charge. As always, food & drink are on your own (Tuesday nights = Hi5 Specials!). All we ask is that you bring something for the “Beans” and/or the “Beauty” above while you are mixing and mingling with our online Tweeps, Fans, & Friends.
This event is OPEN to women in the Triangle who Tweet or use any social media tool to spread the goodness about your company, products, services, etc.
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 1 year, 5 months ago at 10:00 am. 0 comments
(The following post was written by “Guest Blogger” Rachel Healy, Garner Citizen Web Editor and fellow Tweet Diva. Rachel offered to assist Lisa with our promotion of our co-sponsored event, Citizen Social, as Lisa has been UBER busy with her new job. Don’t worry, Lisa will be back to recap this exciting & much-anticipated event after all of the festivities have died down. Sit back, grab your favorite beverage & hear why YOU should be at the Social and why we’ve chosen this cause in particular. Thank you!)
THIS Thursday, our newspaper is trying something new. We’re getting out of the newsroom and onto the race track for our first Citizen Social , a gathering of Garner Citizen staff, readers, and fans at RushHour Karting in Garner. Consider it a meet-and-greet with some friendly competition in the mix.
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tweet Divas for this event. To support the organization’s philosophy of building a better community, we’re selling raffle tickets and accepting donations for the Garner-based animal rescue group Paw Prints.
Why Paw Prints? First, a little about them. A 501(c)(3), the group is six years old with more than 70 volunteers. That number is important, because the organization is run entirely by volunteers. You can find them at the Garner and Knightdale PetSmart stores on the weekends for adoption events, but many work behind the scenes as foster parents for the animals.
If you’ve ever picked up a Garner Citizen paper or browsed our website, you’ve probably seen our “pet of the week” feature. Those are submitted by the folks at Paw Prints, with the always-entertaining dog bios from volunteer Debbie Pell. Some of those animals have been abandoned, abused, or injured, and we’re glad to play a part in helping them find permanent homes.
Individual donations are the most important source of Paw Prints’ income. Each Citizen Social guest will receive a FREE raffle ticket to win a door prize, with additional tickets available for sale. All money raised will go toPaw Prints.
For those who’d like to make an item donation, download their wishlist. We’ll be collecting items that evening.
For more information about Citizen Social and to register, check out http://garnercitizen.com/social.
Posted by Lisa Sullivan, 1 year, 6 months ago at 9:00 am. 0 comments
Once again, I’m happy to announce another worthy community partnership between the Tweet Divas and Garner’s only locally owned and operated newspaper, the Garner Citizen next month.
Meet the staff of the award-winning Garner Citizen, meet other area folks, raise money for a local rescue shelter, and have fun racing go-karts!
All attendees will receive 50% off go-kart rides ($10 instead of $20) and free head socks.
Speaking of the local animal rescue group, as we always do we will be raising money and awareness for a local charity and this time we’ve chosen Paw Prints Animal Rescue.
Paw Prints Animal Rescue, Inc. is an all volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the population of homeless cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. We are dedicated to finding forever homes for displaced or abandoned dogs and cats and educating the public about pet overpopulation and the benefits of spaying and neutering. Paw Prints Animal Rescue makes a lifetime commitment to each animal it rescues and places through adoption. We never want these animals to be homeless again. With your help homeless pets can continue to find their “forever” homes. Please join us in making a difference in these animal’s lives. You won’t be disappointed because Animals have a special way of leaving a paw print on your heart…. (from the folks at Paw Prints)
I know we usually raise awareness for charities dedicated to women’s causes but with the extreme temperatures we’ve been seeing in our area of late and the number of animals being rescued, this is one cause I felt we couldn’t ignore. The folks at Paw Prints do an outstanding job rescuing and adopting-out animals in need of loving homes.
Diva, Rachel Healy (Garner Citizen Web Editor) came to me asking if we’d like to join them for this unique summer time event and of course, I couldn’t decline. It’s open to all Divas (and is family-friendly) but please be sure to register soon as limited space is available.
So…get ready to RUMBLE with Garner Citizen staff members, fellow Divas & citizens, and raise much-needed funds for our furry friends. They’ll be raffle prizes, food, and a whole lotta FUN. Who’s with us?
I’ll be announcing another major partnership for the October Tweet Divas gathering soon and it will be another FUN one. So stay tuned!
