@MarcieBarnes @AllThingsFadra @CharityJen at the Food Bank Mixer 2011

Since May we have co-sponsored with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (June) and held our FIRST ever Chapel Hill gathering (August). Next week, we are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Eye Care Center Raleigh for their FIRST EVER Tweetup -

“I Give a Tweet About My Eyes”

TUES, Oct 25th

7pm-9pm

a benefit for the Wake County Boys & Girls Club

Who wants one of these?

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:

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/

Meet. Tweet. Give.

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.

Hope to see many of you next week!

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!

Courtesy of Paw Prints

It’s time to clean out your pantries and your closets ladies!

Join the Divas for the last BIG gathering of the year as we meet with those we Tweet while raising awareness and donations for two worthy causes – Abbey Gail’s Re-Chic Boutique and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

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 of Most Needed Items for 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.

Tickets are limited so REGISTER NOW.

Hope to see you there!

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 to Paw 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.

Hope to see you there!

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.

The “Citizen Social” will take place:

Thursday, August 19th

from

6:30-9pm

at

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.

Speaking of registration, follow this link – http://citizensocial.eventbrite.com.

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!

See YOU on August 19th!

One June 3rd the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina held it’s kick-off event to their Kids Summer Stock program – the Social Media Mixer – bringing together many Triangle-area social media aficionados and their Families.  From bloggers to Tweeters to Facebook Fans, etc. we all came together to celebrate this amazing program, one that is so vital to our community.

Each Summer 250,000 some odd children who would otherwise receive 2 hot nutritious meals a day thanks to the free and reduced lunch programs at school don’t have that opportunity for nearly eight weeks.  When school’s out for summer so goes the nutrition.  Kids Summer Stock is a program that builds awareness, funds, & donations to help subsidize for those families.

Lisa Sullivan of Tweet Divas with Jen Newmeyerof the Food Bank of CENC

The Tweet Divas were a proud sponsor of the Social Media Mixer and it was a FANTASTIC time too!

Our chefs from The Healing Place prepared snacks from foods that Food Bank beneficiaries receive (and oh that sweet potato whatchamacallit was OUTSTANDING!).

Ed and Heba pose with attendee & Food Bank Rep, Christy Simmons

We had special guests in attendance, including Ed Brantley and Heba Salama from NBC’s The Biggest Loser who were available to talk about their journey, take pictures, and sign autographs with attendees.

And of course, what event wouldn’t be complete without prizes – TONS of them!

One gal walked away with a weekend retreat at Adlerhost, Mountain Cabin NC located near Boone.

Tweet Diva Amanda Moralis with her winnings!

Another put her tickets in for up to 10 cellphones courtesy of Best Buy.  She won 5 and you know what she did? She paid it forward by giving 2 away!  The recipients were surprised and very grateful.

Divas Amanda and Jen

Jennifer Newmeyer of the Food Bank was the Lead Organizer for this event and she did an amazing job!

Thanks to ALL of our sponsors including, the Carolina Hurricanes Kids in Community Foundation, Whimsy Two, Treasure Trove Jewelry, Regal Cinemas, Author Sarah Dessen, and so many, many more.  Thanks to the countless volunteers who gave their time to help with the various components of the evening, the staff at the Food Bank, and our two blogger sponsors – Motherhood and Me as well as Dirt and Noise.

The registration table filled with all kinds of goodies!

The Kids Summer Stock program continues throughout the month of June.  For more information on events in the Central and Eastern part of North Carolina, see this link.

These kids need your help! If you’ve been thinking about contributing but haven’t had the time yet, please give what you can as the month winds down.  It’s never too late to donate to this worthy cause!

Today is the day!

Below are the directions to the Mixer as forwarded to registered attendees last night.  Tickets are still available! Click the link at the bottom to register.  See you tonight!

Location:
Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, Raleigh Branch
3808 Tarheel Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609

Directions:
From 440 (inner beltline): Take the Wake Forest Road exit 10 (north). At the bottom of the ramp, turn left (north). Turn right onto St. Albans and bear left, go down 5 blocks make right onto Tarheel Drive. The Food Bank is on the left.

From 440 (outer beltline): Take the Wake Forest Road exit 10 (north). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right (north). Turn right onto St. Albans and then bear left, go down 5 blocks make right onto Tarheel Drive. The Food Bank is on the left.

From Atlantic Avenue (from downtown): Proceed north under the beltline. Turn left at the light onto Wolfpack Lane. Cross over the railroad tracks and the next right is Tarheel Drive. (Street may not be marked). The Food Bank is on the right about a mile and half.

From Atlantic Avenue (from North Raleigh): Follow Atlantic Avenue past Fed Ex, UPS and through the New Hope Church Road intersection. At the first intersection after Boy Scouts of America, turn right onto Wolfpack (no road sign), then go across the railroad tracks and turn right onto Tarheel Drive. The Food Bank is about a mile and half on the right.

From Highway 1 (Capital Blvd): Coming from the north, turn right onto Highwood Blvd. This becomes Wolfpack Lane after crossing Atlantic Avenue. Turn right on Tarheel Drive, which is the first right after the railroad tracks. Food Bank will be on the right about a mile and half.

Parking:
Look for our volunteer “Parking Director”.  They will direct you to park on the street in front of the warehouse. Once slots get full, we will direct you to the warehouse lot across from the Food Bank.

For more information click here: Kids Summer Stock Social Media Mixer

We’ve been talking about it for over a month now and it’s finally here!

Tweet Divas is proud to sponsor the kick-off event for the 3rd annual Kids Summer Stock campaign.

In 2008, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina launched a food and funds drive called Kids Summer Stock.  The purpose was to reverse the historical decrease in donations to the food bank at a time of the year when the need increases.  More than 250,000 children across the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s 34-county service area who currently have access to the free and reduced meal program at school will soon be on summer break.  This creates a deficit of millions of meals that are not available for these children. Kids Summer Stock has provided a combined total of 3 million meals to children and their families over the past two summers. The 2010 Kids Summer Stock Food and Funds Campaign kicks off at the main warehouse on Tarheel Drive in Raleigh on Thursday, June 3 with a Social Media Mixer. (Food Bank CENC Press Release, 5/28/2010)

We’ll have special guests in attendance.  We’ll have opportunities for you to talk to current volunteers to learn all about why they do what they do.  For the kids, we’ll have pictues with Souper Can and a lemonade stand, just to name a couple of the activities.  There will be drawings for amazing prizes thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes, Adlerhost mountain cabin in Boone, Regal Cinemas, and several of our other sponsors.

But, it’s not all about that.  It’s about raising awareness for this need.  While the event is FREE, donations are welcomed.  Who knows – you might help a child in your own backyard and for some of you, you won’t even know it.

Join us tomorrow night at the Food Bank of CENC headquarters on Tar Heel Drive in Raleigh from 6-8:30pm.  It’s sure to be fun for the whole family!

Register here – http://socialmediamixer.eventbrite.com.

Help us, help our children.

See YOU tomorrow!

If you aren’t registered yet, no worries!  Here’s the link – http://socialmediamixer.eventbrite.com.

Please come out to support your local Food Bank through this wonderful cause.  Lots of GREAT prize give-aways (Carolina Hurricanes Memorabilia and a weekend getaway at Adlerhost mountain cabin near Boone NC to name a couple!), local celebrities (Ed Brantley and Heba Salama from The Biggest Loser), and pictures with Souper Can are just some of what you can look forward to at this kick-off event.

If you have any questions or need additional information, leave a comment here and we’ll see what we can do!

Follow us on Twitter at: @LisaSullivan, @CharityJen, @FoodbankCENC

See YOU on June 3rd!