Give Back

November 5, 2014 by scstarter

Whew! What an uplifting Gals That Give year! I’m not sure that any of us predicted that we would be able to pack a room of 240 attendees and raise over $40,386 in eleven events. The past year has been quite the whirlwind with the rapid growth of Gals That Give and we are so excited to celebrate our one year birthday on November 20th as a fundraiser for the City of Dover Fraternal Order of The Police. We’re planning for an extraordinary first birthday event therefore we decided that just this month we’re inviting the guys to join in on the fun. We are expecting a larger than usual turnout this month so we will be limiting the amount of tickets available and they must be purchased online by November 17th.

Join us for a fun #dogood night sponsored by Lessard Builders!
The event will follow the typical format which includes a three course dinner with appetizers and dessert prepared by Outlook Events at The Duncan Center. There will be a Chinese or “pick a prize” style auction and a 50/50. Our friends at the Painted Stave Distillery will be providing tastings and local musician Emily Moses will be rockin’ out our favorite hits. Dinner is typically served around 6:40 pm but can vary depending on the events of the evening.

Gals (& Guys) That Give Ticket Options:

$25 ticket includes admission & dinner
$35 ticket includes Dinner ticket + (1) bottle of wine (you choose red or white)

(New!) Must Pay Online Prior To The Event
This is a necessary change this month due to the size of the event. Limited seating will be available so please, please, please mark your calendars and RSVP early via Eventbrite! We would love for everyone to join us but space will be limited so do not wait until the last minute!

(New!) #Gals4Charity Social Media Photo Contest
We LOVED looking through the pictures for the #gals4charity picture contest at the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition last month. We will be doing this again – so get creative and tag your event photos with #Gals4Charity on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. The winner will win a prize after dinner.

(New!) Auction Tickets: We added another level!

The Gals That Give community is so lucky to have the support of local businesses and individuals that donate items to our “pick a prize” or “chinese” style auction every month. For the month of November, the list has been pretty extensive with higher priced items such as Philadelphia Flyers tickets, Baltimore Ravens tickets, a low digit auto tag, a capital tour with lunch in the exclusive members only U.S. Senate room, an Apple iPad and other items at a similar price point so we have decided to add another level of auction tickets that allows you to purchase 150 tickets for $100. All proceeds from the auction ticket sales go towards the Dover Fraternal Order of The Police.

Attendees can purchase auction tickets at the event for the following levels:

(New!) Super Sponsor of the Month:
The recently launched sponsorship gives businesses the opportunity to be in front of the Gals That Give community and attendees before, during and after the actual event via social media and signage.

The 2015 Schedule To Be Announced at November Event
The 2015 events calendar and assigned non-profits will be announced at the November 20th Anniversary Party. At this time, businesses can also request months that they would like to be a Super Sponsor. For non-profits interested in applying, you must be a 501c3 and if you’d like to be considered for 2016, please submit your application prior to June 1st, 2015. Email [email protected] for an application or Super Sponsor information.

First Friday Dover
As a reminder, the downtown merchants get together every first Friday of the month to throw fun events similar to a block party with music, refreshments, activities and sales. All proceeds go towards the corresponding Gals That Give Charity of the Month. The checks are presented the charity at each Gals That Give event.

The Education Piece
In one year, we have learned about eleven additional non-profits and resources that support the area where we live. Prior to dinner the non-profit takes a few minutes to present to to the audience through testimonials, experiences and statistics. I feel that this is the most inspirational part of what we do with Gals That Give. Everyone has faced struggles in their lifetime. When someone stands up to share their story with us you can feel the energy in the room pull together as a support system. The sense of community is so powerful it gives me goosebumps every time I think about it.

About the Dover Fraternal Order of Police:
The mission of the Dover Fraternal Order of Police is to assist a fellow members in need and protect and serve their community and the citizens who represent it.

The Fraternal Order of Police is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers and has become the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. The F.O.P. is dedicated to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. Lodge #15 represents the Officers of the City of Dover Police Department.

In fact, there is more you can do if you wish to support some interesting social projects. Check out MAKEITHAPPEN.ORG.AU for details.

Heroes and Helpers
Outside of their daily routine the police officers of the Dover F.O.P. give back to the community by organizing fundraising events and participating in various programs such as the Special Olympics, Toys for Tots and Dover Night Out. During the holiday season they continue to work with organizations like Heroes and Helpers to raise funds so they can brighten the holiday for families who need it most by taking a group of children in need shopping at Target for the holiday.

About the Gals That Give Charity
Gals that Gives’ mission is to cultivate local community non-profit organizations by connecting them with a larger network so they can continue to make an impact where we live and breathe every day.

There are five founders that lead the organization:
Kim Willson, Ruggerio Willson & Associates
Erin Barrett, The Outlook at The Duncan Center
Christina Lessard, Lessard Builders
Stephanie Preece, George & Lynch
(and me!) Catrina Sharp, Lessard Builders

Event Details:
The Outlook at The Duncan Center in Dover, Delaware
Thursday, November 20th
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
We can be reached via email at [email protected], on Facebook or by phone (302) 698-1091

October 28, 2014 by scstarter

Over the past few years, we’ve hosted a fun casino night for Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity called Blackjack to Build. This year, the event will be held Saturday, November 1st at the Lessard Residence in Dover, Delaware from 6 pm to 10 pm. We’re so excited for this year’s event – should be a ton of fun with twelve Blackjack tables and we hope you’ll join us. There will be beer, wine, food and a Chinese “pick a prize” style auction.

Tickets are $50/per person. It includes $300 of “funny money” to play and prizes for the top 5 winners. You can purchase tickets at the door or prior to the event online.

Check out this video from last year’s BlackJack to Build Delaware Charity Benefit!

Sponsors for the 2014 BlackJack to Build event include:
Fordham Dominion Brewery of Dover, Delaware
Dover Rent All Tents & Events of Dover, Delaware
Schwartz & Schwartz Attorneys of Dover, Delaware
R & R Commercial Realty
Del One Federal Credit Union
Shone Lumber
Simonton Windows
The Bug Guy!
Sam Yoder & Sons
Torbert Funeral Chapels
Wyoming Mill Work
Wolf Creek Surgeons
Bonnie Benson Attorney
Lansing Building Products
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Carole Kisner, Realtor

Silent Auction Sponsors Include: The Outlook at The Duncan Center, Acorn Books, Brunswick Bowl, Captains Lady Charters, Carmike Cinemas, Club Fitness, Cool Springs Fish Bar and Restaurant, Dover Symphony Orchestra, Delmarva Shorebirds, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover Liquor Warehouse, Fifer Orchards, Harris Business School, Holiday Inn Dover Downtown, Jiffy Lube, Levy Court Commissioner Allan Angel, Liquor Depot, Maple Dale Country Club, Mark Reeve, Merry Maids, Outerwall, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Procter & Gamble, Restaurant 55, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Roma Italian Restaurant, Shawnee Ski area, Shooters Choice, Texas Road House, Townsend Brothers Chevrolet, United States Senator Chris Coons, Washington Nationals, Wild Quail Golf and Country Club, Women’s Journal, and YMCA Dover

We hope to see you at the next Blackjack to Build Delaware Charity Benefit hosted by Lessard Builders!

October 28, 2014 by scstarter

We’re so excited to announce that our very own Christina Lessard has been named to Delaware Business Times’ list 40 Delaware Achievers Innovators Under 40!

“Christina has completely taken Kent County by storm, in that she has immersed herself in the business community while educating our young people that it’s important to be active in the community you serve.”

– Judy Diogo, President of Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce

Meet Christina Christina began working with Lessard Builders at a young age helping clean the office and run errands as well as other receptionist duties. As she grew older and more familiar with the business, she took on more responsibility and worked with her father, Brian on the day to day activities. Upon graduating from Wilmington University with a BS in Finance, she assumed the role of Comptroller and gained a more comprehensive understanding of the industry from the financial aspect. Today at 27, you can find her co-leading Lessard Builders with her father, working in the office with the administrative team, with clients at the model home or on the construction site. Since the 1940’s, the Lessard family has built custom homes with a passion for quality craftsmanship and superior design. As the fourth generation, Christina looks forwards to carrying on the business with the same values and dedication.

Building Community Homes Delaware — Lessard Builder’s Habitat for Humanity Day

The Importance of Philanthropy Christina’s passion for philanthropy was instilled at a young age. The Lessard family has always encouraged community involvement and the importance of “giving back” both as a family and as a company through the local food pantry, Habitat for Humanity events, schools and other local organizations. With philanthropy as a key influence in her upbringing, Christina strives to promote such work to her generation through young professional networking opportunities in hopes to work together to towards positive changes. Christina’s most recent work includes being a board member of Next Generation South a young professional philanthropic organization with the Delaware Community Foundation and partnering with the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce to form Innovative Initiative, an organization that focuses on young professional development through mentoring meetings and networking events. In the fall of 2013, Christina co-founded Gals That Give, a non-profit that holds monthly girl’s night out events for charity at The Outlook at The Duncan Center. In eleven events, the Gals That Give charity has raised over $40,000 for various non-profits in the Delaware community.

Gals That Give Delaware Community — Gals That Give April 2014 Fundraiser

About The Delaware Business Times The Delaware Business Times is an online and print publication that aims to keep Delaware’s business and civic leaders informed with essential news, information, trends, insights and contacts. According to the Delaware Business Times, the comprehensive quest for the inaugural 40 Delaware Achievers and Innovators Under 40 list took a few weeks searching far and wide across Delaware’s most successful professional organizations. “In short, we combed all three counties and talked to business leaders, titans of industry, and people in the know, looking for 40 candidates under the age of 40, all of whom are on the rise in their respective fields, exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit, and engage with their communities and local civic organizations on a regular basis.” Notes the online article by Robert Kalesse. To view the entire list, visit the article by Robert Kalesse on The Delaware Business Times.

September 4, 2014 by scstarter

If you were one of the hundreds of people that attended R2Hop2 this spring, you’ll understand my excitement for the upcoming event, Hogfest’14 at Fordham Brewery in Dover, Delaware. I love a day that lets you sit back, relax, enjoy the weather, eat when you’re hungry, listen to live music and enjoy your favorite beverage.

Fordham Brewery Music Festival R2Hop2 — **R2Hop2 2014** *Photo credit: R2Hop2 Facebook*

The Ultimate Sunday Funday: Football, Fordham Beer & Food Hogfest ’14 has been set up for the ultimate Sunday Funday complete with Football games on big screen TVs, craft beer from Fordham, wine, local food vendors, a wing competition, a pig roast, games and a great lineup of live music. Sign up here but keep reading for all the extra fun details! Bring The Family If you’re looking for an event to bring the whole family, the ladies can relax and take a break from the cheering and banter of the football games at the ladies’ tent hosted by Beehive Beauty Shop. The kids (free for 12 & under) can have their face painted and burn energy in the bounce house or playing yard games. From noon to 7pm there will be plenty of fun for everyone that wants to tag along with the Football enthusiasts. Live Music Featuring Local Artists: Emily Moses

Fordham Brewery Music Delaware — **Local Artist, Emily Moses** *Photo Credit: Emily Moses Facebook*

Jim Rezac

Kill Bad Radio

Joey Fulkerson

Fordham Brewery Music R2Hop2 — **Joey Fulkerson** *Photo Credit: CoveredBridgeMusic.com*

Local Wine & Spirits In addition to local craft beer from Fordham and Dominion Brewing, Harvest Ridge Winery from Marydel will be present for the wine lovers and Painted Stave Distillery will be there with spirits locally made in Smyrna, Delaware. Which restaurant as THE “Awesome Sauce”? Which wing sauce is the best? You be the judge! Try wings from the following restaurants to cast your vote on who truly has the awesome (wing) sauce! Who do you think will win in this group of contestants? Bethany Blues from Bethany, Delaware Kick n’ Chicken Peppers.com from Lewes, Delaware The Starboard from Dewey Beach, Delaware Woody’s from Dewey Beach, Delaware Cowboy Up from Dover, Delaware Touchdown Restaurant from Dover, Delaware Greene Turtle from Dover, Delaware Port Restaurant from Dewey Beach, Delaware Delicious Local Food In addition to a succulent pig roast you’ll be able to enjoy food from the wing vendors, scrapple dishes from Kirby & Halloway, ice cream from Tres Sorelle Dolce and a variety from Abbott’s Grill. I LOVE it when Abbott’s is a vendor at an event like this – every dish they offer is pretty much amazing and if you need a little more convincing just look at this chicken that I had at the Fifer’s Peach Festival. I also had a burger at R2Hop2 that was so good!

Fordham Brewery Abbott's Grill — Abbott’s Grill Chicken at Fifer’s Peach Festival

Are You Ready For Some Football? Trust me, this set up will be better than your living room. With beer and food at your disposal, live Football games will be playing on three big screen televisions. You won’t have to worry about anything else except cheering for your team and where you placed your square. I’m not certain which games will be playing at the event but I can tell you who is scheduled from the NFL website.

1:00 PM Games Dolphins vs. Bills Saints vs. Browns Lions vs. Panthers Falcons vs. Bengals Cowboys vs. Titans Jaguars vs. Redskins Patriots vs. Vikings Cardinals vs. Giants 4:05 PM Games Seahawks vs. Chargers Rams vs. Buccaneers 4:25 PM Games Chiefs vs. Broncos Jets vs. Packers Texans vs. Raiders 8:30 PM Games Bears vs. 49ers VIP Tickets: Unlimited Pints & Pig If you’re a die-hard football, craft beer and pig roast fan, you’ll want to check out the VIP tickets. Looks like there are a limited amount and there is a VIP tent so you can avoid long lines and missing the next play. Additional ticket options include General, Designated Driver, Kids & Under 21. You’re Giving Back Too! Did I mention that you’re doing all this fun stuff and still giving back to the community? All proceeds go to Next Generation South. Next Gen South is dedicated to helping young families, programs that increase access to child mental health services including but not limited to victims of abuse, suicide prevention, anti-bullying efforts and to combat teen dating violence. We’ll be there enjoying the end of summer/almost fall weather as a sponsor. Hope to see you there!

August 27, 2014 by scstarter

Raise your hand if you’ve joined the ALS charity ice bucket challenge?!

One of the greatest aspects of working with Gals That Give Charity is that you to consistently learn about charities and organizations dedicated to supporting our neighbors when they need it most. We hope to create awareness of these charities and in turn, build a stronger community. If you have been watching the news or browsing social media in the past few weeks, you are familiar with the viral charity ice bucket challenge. Proven to be successful in just a few weeks, the general public is much more aware of the ALS disease, patients are enjoying watching the challenges and the growing efforts have raised over 88.5 million dollars nationwide and over 238,000 dollars in our local chapter.

It is never too late to donate! The ladies of Gals That Give Charity were nominated individually so we decided to do the challenge and donate to the ALS Association together. We had fun dumping ice water on the next gal’s head but the ultimate goal is to help spread awareness and raise funds for our local ALS Association Chapter. In this post you’ll find our Gals That Give Charity Ice Bucket Challenge video, contact information for the local chapter and upcoming events that benefit ALS. I’d also like to introduce you to an inspiring young lady from Delaware that is going the extra mile to defeat ALS in Rehoboth, Delaware next month.

Kayla Wilson ALS Advocate Delaware — Kayla Wilson, Advocate for ALS in Delaware (Photo credit: ALS website)

Meet Kayla Wilson Kayla Wilson is an 11 year old ALS advocate from Clayton, Delaware. She first found out about ALS when she learned about the baseball player, Lou Gehgrig in a book at school. Impacted by the story of Lou Gehgrig’s fight against this life threatening disease, she made a point to keep researching ALS to learn more about it. It was just shortly after that Kayla’s parents told her that her Aunt Pam was in fact struggling with ALS. Moved by this news, Kayla searched for ways to help and joined the Rehoboth Beach Walk to Defeat ALS. She set a goal to be the Top Youth Fundraiser and raised just over $1,100 by going door to door, talking with friends, coaches, parents and anyone she could educate about the cause. Kayla became involved with the local ALS advocates to meet with Delaware State Representatives to discuss funding for ALS patient services. The day that Kayla visited the State House she wore her Walk to Defeat ALS shirt proudly and received a standing ovation after sharing her account of her Aunt Pam’s struggle with ALS. This year’s walk is September 13th and it will be Kayla’s first walk without her Aunt Pam. She has continued her efforts to raise awareness and funds for ALS research by hosting an event at her local nutrition store and raising her goal to $7,000. I truly admire Kayla for her compassion and dedication so I will be donating to ALS through her team to show support and cheer on her efforts to help raise awareness for ALS research year round in our area. If there is still time to donate to Kayla’s efforts, I hope you’ll consider it too!

Delaware Charity Ice Bucket Challenge — Kayla is so close to reaching her goal!

Gals That Give Charity accepted the ALS Charity Ice Bucket Challenge!

We happily pass the charity ice bucket challenge to the following Delaware non-profits & one super supporter! If you aren’t familiar with the charities listed below, feel free to click their name to learn more about what they do for our state. – Purrfect Haven Cat Rescue, past beneficiary – Cancer Support Community Delaware, past beneficiary – Beehive Beauty Shop, first official event sponsor – Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, our September beneficiary! – 3B: Brae’s Brown Bags, a young Delawarean making a difference in our state! Rehoboth Beach Walk to Defeat ALS® Saturday, September 13, 2014 Location: The Boardwalk at “The Bandstand”, Rehoboth, Delaware Registration: 8:00 am, Walk Starts 9:30 am ALS Contact Information for Delaware: ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia Serves Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, Central and Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Chapter Contact: Ashley Hendrix, Email: Ashley (@) alsphiladelphia (.) org Phone: (215) 643-5434 Address: The ALS Association, 321 Norristown Rd. Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) From the ALS Association website.

Just what is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease, first described in 1869 by the noted French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, the last decade has brought a wealth of new scientific understanding about the disease that provides hope for the future. Lou Gehrig first brought national and international attention to the disease in 1939 when he abruptly retired from baseball after being diagnosed with ALS. Most commonly, the disease strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that usually attacks both upper and lower motor neurons and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord. A common first symptom is a painless weakness in a hand, foot, arm or leg, which occurs in more than half of all cases. Other early symptoms include speech, swallowing or walking difficulty. A smaller percentage of people with ALS may also experience symptoms resulting from degeneration in parts of the brain which control thinking, behavior, and language skills. Read more about ALS here.

Did you participate in the charity ice bucket challenge? What did you learn from your experience?

August 24, 2014 by scstarter

“We have a good community. We know a lot of good people. I wish the whole Earth could be just one big community. Imagine if all the good people worked together.” – Braeden Quinn

Not long ago I introduced you to an inspiring young Delawarean that is finding time to give back to his community between school, sports and being a ten year old kid.

Meet Braeden Quinn — Braeden Quinn, Founder of 3B: Brae’s Brown Bags

I began working with Braeden after his grandmother saw an article about Gals That Give’s monthly girl’s night out for charity events in The News Journal. He reached out to us on Twitter, asking if we could help him plan an upcoming event. Impressed with Braeden’s mission to help others at such a young age, it was without question that the gals were all on board to help!

To my surprise, our task was not to plan a full scale fundraising event with fancy decorations, auction items or gidgets and gadgets galore. We were planning a fun party where Braeden could invite his biggest supporters and simply thank them for their help throughout his first year of 3B’s. What an A-W-E-S-O-M-E concept.

But seriously, our world today needs more positivity, selflessness and thank yous! To me, each brown bag that Braeden delivers contains more than water and healthy snacks. It sends hope, optimism and a proof that people do care. Something that we all need to be reminded of once in a while.

3B NonProfit Thanks Delaware

The celebration was a huge success! We were honored to be part of such a fun and thoughtful event. There were games like foursquare and cornhole, a moonbounce obstacle course, photobooth, door prizes, music from WSTW, t-shirts, cool sunglasses that fold up to fit in your pocket and delicious food. Who knew the Bear-Glasgow YMCA had so much awesome space for fun events and parties.

YMCA Bear Glasgow — Setting up at the YMCA

3B Summer Celebration at the YMCA — 3B goody bags & t-shirts!

3B Summer Celebration at the YMCA door prizes — Door prizes – so many winners!

Inflatables at 3B Celebration YMCA — The obstacle course from Inflatables R Fun!

3Bs: UDairy Creamery — Finn was the first to test taste UDairy Creamery!

Basketball Court at YMCA Delaware — Foursquare and basketball too!

Braeden even gave a great speech and gave out awards to people like his buddy Senator Bryan Townsend, Senator Bethany Hall Long, super supporters from his family like his grandparents, Ministry of Caring, The Food Bank of Delaware, YMCA of Delaware, Gals That Give & APO Zeta Sigma at University of Delaware. Delaware Senator Tom Carper, Jeffery Gentry of The News Journal, Tanya Steel of Epicurious were also thanked but were unable to be make the event.

Bear Glasgow YMCA Pavilion — The YMCA pavilion was packed!

Braeden and Senator Bryan Townsend — Braeden thanks his buddy, Senator Bryan Townsend.

Senator Bethany Hall Long Summer Celebration — Senator Bethany Hall Long with her award from Brae!

I was part of a planning committee that consisted of Braeden, his mom Christy, Terry Mullan of the YMCA and Kim Turner and Caitlin Custer from The Food Bank of Delaware. He invited us up on stage and said the nicest things about each of us! Braeden’s thoughtful and unexpected words gave me goosebumps – thank you, Braeden!! I just have to say that it is easy to bubbly and happy when you are helping someone like you make a difference in the world! You inspire us all, Braeden. Keep up the awesome work.

3B Planning Celebration — The #3BThankYou planning team rockin’ the 3B sunglasses

Sponsors of the 3B Thank You event were: YMCA of Delaware, The Food Bank of Delaware, 93.7 WSTW, Big Fish Grill, UDairy Creamery, Custom Ink, Gals That Give, Holman Moving Systems and the Transportation Union Systems Local Lodge 584.

3B Moo Mobile UDairy Creamery — Yum! Four flavors to choose from.

Amelia and Christy Mannering — Super Mom of Braeden, Christy and his sister Amelia!

Keep up the amazing work Braeden! Looking forward to next year.

Find out more about 3B: Brae’s Brown Bags
Braeden Mannering is a ten year old on a mission to help those in need with healthy snacks. He’s a food insecurity advocate and introduced Michelle Obama with a fantastic speech at the 2014 Kids’ State Dinner in July 2014. Follow Braeden’s adventures to do good on Facebook, Twitter or read his blog.

August 4, 2014 by scstarter

The community that plays together, wins together! If you haven’t heard about the hardworking Middletown community organization M.O.T. Big Ball you should keep reading! The annual 24 hour Big Ball Marathon supports the Middletown, Odessa, Townsend community year round through various avenues. I’ve had the opportunity to meet the hardworking group of people that go above and beyond to support to their community year round – they are amazing!

If you don’t have plans for Labor Day weekend, keep that calendar clear! Sign up for a team or stop by Silver Lake Park in Middletown, Delaware August 29th & 30th for family fun, live music, face painting, games, good food and sportsmanship for a good cause.

Middletown Community Includes Dogs — Big Ball: Fun For All!

Middletown Community Helps Delaware — Fun for all ages!

Middletown Community Labor Day Fundraiser — Even Chimps can play!

24 Hours of Fun For Everyone! This very unique fundraising event draws thousands of people from the Delaware community to watch softball games, participate in family fun activities and raise money for the Middletown Community. The actual softball tournament was the most fun I’ve ever had at any fundraiser. Ever. Playing in the M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon was like being in gym class again and the length of gym class depends on how many games you want to play! I played in three games last year with three different teams. It was actually the first time I’ve ever played in a softball game so I was pretty happy that it truly is a ball the size of a grapefruit. Teams are from all over Delaware – companies, radio stations, schools, sports teams, friends, clubs and there are even teams that play with their furry friends – dogs and horses! It is a great way to get the whole family involved in giving back to the Middletown community – children of all ages can participate and I even brought my dog Wolfgang along with me who loved playing in the outfield!

Marathon Teams A significant piece of the tournament is the four marathon teams that play for 12 hours straight against the hourly individual teams. I’m not sure how they do it but they were positive and upbeat the whole time.

What does the M.O.T. Big Ball do? The M.O.T. Big Ball Committee is dedicated to supporting those who need it most in the surrounding areas of the Middletown community. In addition to supporting other initiatives within the community, the funds raised from the M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon efforts provide a safety net fund to help families throughout the year who might experience an unforeseen job loss, illness or other startling life change. Over the past 16 years, the M.O.T. Big Ball tournament has raised over $500,000 for the Middletown community.

In 2013 alone, the annual Labor Day tournament raised over $63,000! Proceeds from the M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon supports many local organizations including: – The M.O.T. Big Ball committee has provided over $75,000 to the New Castle County Habitat for Humanity – M.O.T. Big Ball helps provide the roofs for the Habitat for Humanity homes built in Middletown. – Supports Positive Behavior Support (PBS) in the area’s schools. – Provide school supplies for the Appoquinomink School District – Neighborhood House, Freedom Center for Independent Living, Kellen Poultney Scholarship Fund, M.O.T. Special Olympics, The Everett Theatre, The Gibby Theater, Boys & Girls Club, Youth for Christ, Amazing Grace Ministries and the M.O.T. Senior Center. How You Can Help: – Tell your friends! Show support for M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon by connecting with them on Facebook – Donate directly to the community fund online. Every dollar counts. – Play! Join a marathon team (you brave soul)! – Play! Put a team together to play August 29th or August 30th for one game. M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon Starts: August 29th at 6:00 pm Location: Silver Lake Park 200 East Cochran Street Middletown, Delaware 19709

For more information, visit the M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon website or contact: Kate Rokosz Email: [email protected] Phone: (302) 379-1531

July 29, 2014 by scstarter

Did you know that the first Friday of every month, the downtown Dover shops pretty much throw a big block party with refreshments, fun activities and live music for the whole family? Stop searching for inexpensive things to do with your family on a Friday night! Get outside, walk around and enjoy what downtown Dover has to offer. It is a much better way to spend your time (and money) than two hours at the movie theater or in front of the television on a beautiful summer night.

Check out everything there is to do for all groups of age or interest at First Friday Downtown Dover:

August Theme: Downtown Dover Beach Party! First Friday, August 1st: from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Frankfurt Bakery on S. Governors Ave – Arts in the Alley, face painting, cupcake decorating, and an origami demonstration for the kids! DJ & live performance from the Blecher Trio, a family of kids singing the Disney Hits.

Bayard Pharmacy on Loockerman St. – Free refreshments from Frankfurt Bakery & a free summer gift basket for the first 15 kids who stop in.

Bel Boutique on Loockerman St. – Throwback Party Vintage Style! Fun for all – stop by to check out the real, vintage hot rod in front of the shop and check out the Alex & Ani Vintage ’66 collection. If this were me – it would be a great way to get the fiancé to shop with me! I could check out the Alex & Ani bracelets for as long as I wanted! Clever setup here, ladies.

Dover Art League on W. Loockerman St. presents “Shades of Georgia O’ Keeffe”, talented local artists will be able to demonstrate their appreciation for the works of this famous, accomplished artist. The criteria for submitted artworks it that the art works be in a style inspired by the works of O’Keeffe. This could mean art works done in modernist style, vibrant color, similar subject matter, or any other way that may show Georgia O’Keeffe’s influence.There will be a reception from 5pm to 7pm.

33 West on Loockerman St. – Live music by Tim Jardon starting at 8:30 pm

Golden Fleece on Loockerman St. – Hors d’oeurves and live entertainment featuring Brian McDaniels followed by Stacks Entertainment

Beyond Dimensions on Governors Ave – Hosting singer/songwriter Rick Hudson & light refreshments

Blue Hen Auction Company on Loockerman St. – Free Antique Appraisals from 5 to 7 pm

Dover News Stand on Loockerman St. – Live music by J.D. Sage

Rouge: 50% all bikinis

Partners In Design: 20% off everything

Additional First Friday participants in downtown Dover: Suds Bar & Essentials, Forney’s & Forney’s Too, Cendel Foundation, Beehive Beauty Shop, Emmanuel’s Book Shop, Amore Bridal, Chereveux Salon, J La Salon, Maxine’s Fashions, Dover Public Library

First Friday Downtown Dover Give Back to the Delaware community The participating First Friday Downtown Dover merchants all donate a percentage of sales to a chosen charity of the month as part of “First Friday Gives Back”. The Downtown Dover Partnership merchants have decided to partner with the local Gals That Give charity which means that the proceeds from “First Friday” in the beginning of each month will go to the corresponding Gals That Give charity of that month.

The August 1st, 2014 “First Friday” will benefit Foundation for a Better Tomorrow to correspond with the July 17th Girls Night benefit.

Time to open up that smart phone calendar and invite your your friends, family or co-workers to stop by downtown Dover the first Friday of each month to enjoy a big party and give back to the community. Enjoy art, face painting, live music, food, community and fun for the whole family. Follow their happenings on Facebook.

July 28, 2014 by scstarter

As you may know, Christina Lessard and I help lead a non-profit called Gals That Give along with three other women: Kim Willson of Ruggerio Willson & Associates, Stephanie Turner of George & Lynch and Erin Barrett of Outlook Events at The Duncan Center.

Gals That Give Kids 2014 — Gals That Give ladies with local 4H Club

We’ve had a surge of new interest in the event lately so I thought I would create a post that would explain what we do, the concept and how those interested can join. The concept is pretty simple (and fun)! Once a month Gals That Give hosts a Girl’s Night Out dinner for charity. The event kicks off at 5:30 pm to end at 7:30 pm and includes a buffet dinner, cash bar, 50/50 and Chinese auction. All proceeds go to the featured charity which changes each month.

Gals On A Mission:
Gals That Give is giving back to the non-profit organizations in our local community. Our work is about building stronger communities and relationships and we believe that women are an important leverage point in that work. Gals that Gives’ mission is to cultivate local community non-profit organizations by connecting them with a larger network so they can continue to make an impact where we live and breathe every day.

It’s working!
Gals That Give kicked off in September 2013 and it is astounding to see 150 women pull together and raise thousands of dollars for a local charity in just two hours. To date, Gals That Give events have collectively raised a total of $29,771 for the local area.

Each charity has brought a new group of women to the table and it seems like our core group of ladies just keeps growing and growing! In a room of about 150 ladies, about sixty percent return from previous months and about forty percent are joining us for the first time.

No – you do not need to have a “date” with you to join us for the first time. If you are weary about being a first timer – just message us or let one of us know and we’ll introduce you to a few friendly faces. You might even recognize someone from one of the charities we’ve worked with in 2014.

Past Gals That Give events:
– Next Generation Delaware South, September 2013
– The Shepard Place, November 2013
– Communities In Schools Delaware, January 2014
– Cancer Support Community Delaware, February 2014
– Purrfect Haven Cat Rescue, March 2014
– Holler N Hooves 4H Club of Delaware, April 2014
– Girls on The Run Delaware, May 2014
– Operation: Dorm to Gourm, June 2014
– Foundation For A Better Tomorrow, July 2014

Upcoming Gals That Give events:
– Thursday, September 18th: Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity RSVP here
– Thursday, October 16th: Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
– Thursday, November 20th, Gals (and Guys) That Give benefit for Dover F.O.P

Did that just say Gals AND Guys? Yes! It did – we’re so excited to celebrate our first birthday with a co-ed event and hope that you’ll join us with your gal and guy friends for a fun evening giving back to the Dover Fraternal Order of Police.

How much are tickets?
Tickets are $25 per person. You can pay online via Eventbrite or by cash or check made out to Gals That Give at the door the day of the event.

How to Participate:
We’ve had a lot of ladies ask what they can do to help or to become a member. All you have to do is join in on the fun at our events. If you’d like to participate by donating an auction item, you can do that as well.

What is the Gals That Give Auction?
The Gals That Give auction is 25 to 60 items donated by local people or organizations in the community. You have the option to purchase raffle tickets at the event and place them in the corresponding cup for the items that you’d like to win. At the end of the evening, we shake up the cups and pull a ticket – if it is your number, you are going home a winner! 100% of the ticket proceeds go towards the featured charity of the month.

To date, we’ve seen a variety of items including Alex & Ani bracelents, TOMS shoes, fashion accessories, art from local artists, cakes, gift certificates, wine baskets, food baskets, girls night out baskets, massage gift certificates, mulch, a beach house weekend, Phillies tickets, event tickets, hair cuts, hair treatments, kid birthday parties, gym memberships and much more.

How to donate an item to the Chinese Auction:
You can coordinate with one of the ladies from Gals That Give or a representative from that month’s featured charity. We do ask that we have the item a few days prior to the event so we can everything set up before the doors open at 5:30 pm. We can also give you an in kind donation form as well!

How Charities can apply:
Charities that have a 501©3 status can submit an application to us at a Gals That Give dinner for consideration. Contact us via email, at an event or on Facebook for the application.

How to contact Gals That Give and stay current on upcoming events:

Join Our Mailing List
Connect with us on Facebook:
Connect with us on Twitter: @GalsThatGive
Email Us: [email protected]
Go to our Eventbrite page for details on current, past & upcoming events.

We hope to hear from you! If you’ve been to a Gals That Give event, we’d love to hear what you think!

July 23, 2014 by scstarter

Braeden Mannering Helps Delaware Community — Don’t forget The Big Picture! Thank you, Braeden!

It is so easy to get lost in the busyness of business with the to-do lists, emails, rush hour traffic and deadlines that we forget about “the big picture”. Meet Braeden Mannering, an inspiring ten year old Delawarean that sees the bigger picture, understands that there are people in Delaware that may not know when their next meal will be – and does something about it.

“Anytime I see a person on the street with a sign saying they need help I hope I can give them one of my bags and I hope I can help them.” – Braeden Mannering

Meet Braeden Mannering – An Inspiration!

Braeden Mannering at the White House in 2013

Braeden Mannering was the Delaware winner for the national Healthy Lunchtime Challenge last year. In July 2013, he was invited to the Kids’ State Dinner at The White House where he met The President, First Lady and Senator Tom Carper. He was inspired by his visit and the thought provoking speech from Michelle Obama that asked the audience how they could “pay it forward”. Braeden Mannering took this request to heart and really thought about ways he’d like to give back to others. He realized how sad he felt by the number of homeless people asking for food with signs in Washington, D.C. and noticed how regularly he saw them in Delaware too. 3Bs: Braeden’s Brown Bags

Motivated to help those in need, he gave whatever he had with him to the next few homeless people he saw – bottled water, snacks and even an umbrella in the rain. He was thanked warmly for his kindness and realized that he could help others by having bags of water and healthy snacks readily available for those in need during his travels. He also took the time to research and compile a list of local places to go for additional help to include in each bag. One year later One year and over 1,300 brown bags later, Braeden Mannering was invited back to The White House for the 2014 Kids State Dinner as a guest speaker and to introduce The First Lady, Michelle Obama. He did such a great job – you’ll want to take a minute to watch his speech here: I have had the opportunity to hang out with Braeden on a few occasions and he’s a ten year old on a mission to help build a better world. He’s also a kid that enjoys Clash of Clans, video games, drawing, telling funny stories about his siblings and sharing cool ideas. I enjoy following his posts on social media, written from Braeden himself, they act as little cues to cut back on the busyness of business to take time to give back every day. Even if it is a few minutes of re-tweets or Facebook post shares to help spread awareness of doing good – every little bit counts. Thank you for being such an inspiration and a constant motivator, Braeden! Keep up the awesome work – you rock! Connect with Braeden Mannering: 3B’s Brown Bags on Facebook, Twitter and read about his latest adventures on his blog. If interested in ways to help his cause, you can do that here.

Thank you for reading this post! Feel free to share your comments, favorite charities and ways you like to give back in the comments below.

April 28, 2014 by scstarter

Gals That Give Charity is giving back to non-profit organizations through monthly “Girls Night Out” events. To date, the events have collectively raised over $16,298 for local charities in Kent County, Delaware. Newly launched non-profit, Gals That Give Charity invites women to their “Girls Night Out” event on Thursday May 15th, 2014 for dinner, drinks and philanthropy.

The event will be held in Dover, Delaware from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Outlook at the Duncan Center. Women interested in attending can RSVP online by May 12th. Gals That Give Charity was founded in late 2013 by woman professionals that have a profound interest in philanthropic work.

“The concept combines the typical professional networking event with an evening out with the girls. Every girl welcomes a chance to have a nice dinner out to catch up with old friends and meet new ones,” says founder Erin Barrett, Events Coordinator of The Outlook at The Duncan Center.

Held on the third Thursday of each month, the proceeds go directly to the designated charity for that month. The entry fee is $25 and includes a three course menu with an appetizer and dessert. Refreshments and a cash bar are also available. In addition to dinner and drinks, there is a chance to win items from a silent, “pick-a-prize” style auction and participate in a 50/50 raffle. Auction items are donated to the cause from local businesses and have included home décor, fashion accessories, professional services, artwork by local artists and gift certificates to local restaurants.

Each event has approximately 20 to 40 auction items and all funds raised by the auction and raffle go directly to the charity of the month. May will mark the seventh Gals That Give event. To date, Gals That Give has raised over $16,298. “We can attribute our success to the growing network of women that continue to support Gals That Give by bringing a friend, donating an auction item and spreading the word through our social channels like Facebook and Twitter,” says founder Kim Willson, partner of Ruggerio Willson & Associates. In addition to raising funds, the Gals That Give event is the ideal opportunity for the featured charity to educate others about their mission through presentations and guest speakers.

In February, there was not a dry eye in the room when and cancer survivor Ray Failing shared her personal experience and appreciation for Cancer Support Community’s work with the audience. “Gals That Give goes beyond the typical networking event. The ladies that join us each month are from all generations, professions and causes. It truly brings us together as a community,” says founder Christina Lessard of Lessard Builders.

According to their mission statement, community is a key factor behind the work of Gals That Give Charity. “We believe that women are a fundamental component to building stronger communities and relationships in our area,” says founder Stephanie Turner of George and Lynch. “By connecting local non-profit organizations with the Gals That Give community, we hope to make a substantial impact where we live and breathe every day.”

The next event on Thursday, May 15th will benefit Girls on the Run, Delaware. The event will be at The Outlook at The Duncan Center in Dover, Delaware from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Those interested in attending the event can register via the online invitation

About Girls on the Run: Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. A life-changing, non-profit program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade, their mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their running buddies, complete a 5k running event. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The result—making the seemingly impossible, possible and teaching girls that they can. To learn more about Girls on The Run Delaware, you can visit their website or Facebook page.

About Gals That Give Charity Gals that Give was founded in late 2013 by Kim Willson, Stephanie Turner, Erin Barrett, Catrina Sharp and Christina Lessard. Gals That Give Charity recently earned their 501©3 status by teaming up with the the CenDel Foundation. Gals That Give Charity is giving back to the local non-profit organizations in the Kent County, Delaware community. Gals that Give Charity’s mission is to cultivate local community non-profit organizations by connecting them with a larger network so they can continue to make an impact where they live and breathe every day. Gals That GiveCharity is on Facebook, Twitter and can be reached via email GalsThatGiveCharity(at)gmail(dot)com.

Testimonials

Tom and Gloria Douglas

Ocean View, Delaware

John and Denise Johnson

Lewes, Delaware

Sara and Jo King

Lewes, Delaware

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Office Address

Lewes Office