EWI gets visibility through RaiseForWomen Campaign Milestone and The Huffington Post

Many thanks to all who contributed to Empowered Women International through the online giving event: RaiseForWomen hosted by The Huffington Post, The Skoll Foundation, and Half the Sky Movement.

With your support, so far, we raised $2,293, and a gift of exposure from HuffPostImpact through their Facebook and Twitter accounts (see the prizes below).

The campaign will continue until June 6, and the next bonus challenge started at today for $4,000. Here’s the deal…

The charity that raises the most by May 27 @ 12pm ET will get an additional $4,000.  

Please share our link http://www.crowdrise.com/GiftFreedomandOpportunity/fundraiser/empoweredwomenintl with your friends and help us meet our goal of$15,000 by June 6. 

Many thanks for all your support and dedication to the cause of Empowered Women International.

Learn more about the prizes here. http://www.crowdrisepromos.com/raiseforwomen/index.html

In Letter to the Editor, Good Things Happened on Spring2Action

The April 17 Spring2Action online philanthropic and giving event was a day filled with excitement, energy and dedication. The whole Alexandria community came together to raise money and left a lasting and meaningful impact on all of the non-profits involved during the event.

Perhaps the most important footprint this special day left was none other than here at the headquarters of Empowered Women International. With the help and support of everyone involved we were able to raise $30,497 and won an additional $2,850 in prizes from ACT for Alexandria.

This huge milestone for EWI and the women in our Entrepreneur Training for Success was recently documented in a letter Marga Fripp wrote to the editor in Alexandria Times, which was laster picked up by the Nonprofit Roundtable e-Newsletter. The letter, “When city residents get together good things happen,” highlights the mission of EWI and what it stands for, and expounds how people with similar visions coming together can accomplish huge results in a single day. With ACT for Alexandria’s meticulous work, our contributor’s relentless support, and our wonderful board members, volunteers, and staff we have made great strides to make the world a better place leaving a lasting legacy and a community of change-makers.

We thank Alexandria Time’s for publishing the letter and deeply gratified for the generous and continuous support of all who made Spring2Action a day to remember!

To read the letter, please visit:

http://alextimes.com/2013/05/when-city-residents-get-together-good-things-happen/

Upcoming Featured Event – Spring 2 Action!

APRIL 17 – Get Ready for Spring2Action I One day online giving

Remember last year when we reached out to you nonstop for one day to help us raise funds to support our work? For a whole twenty-four hours on one day, the whole city of Alexandria sprung into action and gave and gave to all us charities… It was a great day. Because of you, our donors and supports and volunteers. You helped make EWI history.

We exceed our own goal in dollars raised and donors rallied. EWI placed 2nd with the most number of donors and 3rd place for the most dollars raised. We raised $24,000 in one day. ACT for Alexandria is taking us all to task again this year with their exceptional fundraising marathon, set for April 17th.

This year we’re raising the stakes because we believe in the power of your support, the power of our capacity, and the power of the women we support.

Are you ready? We ARE. Read more

We’d like to thank the ladies of Sip with Socialites!

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the wonderful women behind Sip with Socialites for organizing a Spring benefit for EWI! The event will be this Thursday, March 14th from 7-10pm in Georgetown.

Founded in 2011, Sip With Socialites is a best friend to trendsetting professionals. In addition to their habit-forming blog, Sip With Socialites hosts monthly fundraisers for our pet charities and causes. Local DC celebs, scenesters, publicists, bloggers, politicos and philanthropists will be in attendance.

To find out more about the event and RSVP, visit their facebook page here!

We hope to see you there!

 

EWI Sipping with Socialites on March 14th!

We’re thrilled and honored to be selected as the charity of the month by Sip with Socialites. Local DC celebs, scenesters, publicists, bloggers, politicos and philanthropists will be in attendance. Thank you Natalie Zajicova and Melissa Reitkopp for making this possible. Learn more!

Want to see Disney’s Beauty & the Beast at the Hippodrome on January 22?!

Do YOU want a chance to win two tickets to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, part of the Hippodrome Broadway Series?

Today is the final day of Action Alexandria’s “Favorite Us” contest! EWI is holding strong in 3rd place, but we need a BIG PUSH to get us to the lead!

Everyone who signs up to Action Alexandria and “favorites” EWI will be entered to win 2 tickets to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Hippodrome theater in Baltimore on January 22nd! Click here to view our profile and favorite us! Just click the link under our logo.

We have two sets of two tickets up for grabs! We’ll be raffling the tickets to two winners at 5:00pm today- the close of the contest.

Be sure to let us know that you’ve “favorited” us to be entered! You can comment on our facebook page or email Perri at Perri@ewint.org

Favorite us for your chance to win tickets to Beauty and the Beast and to help EWI win $1,000 to continue empowering and supporting creative women entrepreneurs in the DMV!

Click here for instructions on how to favorite EWI.

What Can $1,000 Do At EWI?!

Irina practicing reiki on Amina. Photo by Ernesto Rivera.

Have you ever wondered what kind of impact $1,000 makes at EWI? Well, wonder no more!

1. $1,000 can cover half of the tuition cost for one woman to attend our 3-month business incubator

2. $1,000 can provide 4 women with a 5-hour package of one-on-one career and business assessment, coaching, and mentoring

3. $1,000 allows 10 women to receive 2 one-on-one coaching sessions to start-up or expand her business

4. $1,000 makes it possible for EWI to provide 28 women with personal one-hour business assessment sessions

 

Help us make it possible to continue inspiring, empowering, and supporting women entrepreneurs!
“Support” or “Favorite” EWI on Action Alexandria and we can win up to $1,000!
Visit THIS PAGE and click the link under our logo to become a supporter and help us reach the #1 spot!

Contest rules and information found here.

 

An Evening of Inspiration…

The Magic of EWI’s 10th Anniversary

• Raised $84,000
• Celebrated with 200 Fans and Supporters
• Inspired Leadership and Entrepreneurship

 

An Evening of Inspiration…

” The EWI 10th anniversary celebration was beyond impressive.

You have created a place where the American Dream can actually be achieved.

 You have transformed lives and enabled immigrant women (and others) to break barriers and discover their unique potential

in ways that most could never have believed possible. “

-    Meryl Levine

The artfully crafted and donated cake by EWI entrepreneur graduates, Elda and Lyzbeth, owners of D’Ellizia

The special EWI team at work…

Dianne Lorenz, Board of Directors, and Paul Miller – Proud EWI supporters

Jan Piercy and Marty Cordes sharing an exciting moment in the program

Marga Fripp, Congresswoman Connie Morella, and Kate Campbell Stevenson

Larry and Deborah Blank, EWI supporters and Advisory Board members

Ron and Marty Cordes, Marga Fripp, Kate Campbell Stevenson, and Jan Piercy

EWI entrepreneur graduates, Alison Sigethy, Rabia Pervez, and Sharmila Karamchandani, sharing their stories…

The amazing members of the Giving Circle of Hope Reston

EWI family who made everything magic…

Want to be part of the EWI movement?

Join in with us to make a year-end tax deductible donation and support our work

THANK YOU AMAZING EWI SUPPORTERS!

Mason Hirst Foundation has joined us as Benefactor and will support EWI’s Grow My Business Program with a gift of $20,000. Magaly and Tom Hirst are dedicated EWI supporters and generous donors of EWI, and their investment helped EWI grow its programs and services across the region.

Capital One Bank has joined us as Patron and will support EWI’s Grow My Business Program with a gift of $10,000. Capital One bankers work closely with EWI to provide financial mentoring to students in the Entrepreneur Incubator. Below is a picture of EWI women entrepreneurs and Capital One Bankers.

Flory Jagoda, Jewish-American and Bosnian guitarist, composer and singer, a lifelong supporter of the EWI will be part of the celebration with 2 of her wonderful musicians. Read Flory’s Story

Andy Shallal, Washington’s most successful entrepreneur-artist-activist and the owner of Busboys and Poets will be part of our 10th Anniversary Benefit. Read Andy’s Story

Joanne Clark, EWI Board of Directors, Andy Shallal and Marga Fripp

 

Diana Katz and Joan Kasprovicz, Founders of the Giving Circle of Hope and lifelong EWI supporters. We’re so grateful for all the support provided by the members of the Giving Circle of Hope over the years.

Symphonic Strategies and A. J. Robinson, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of the company will be joining us a Table Sponsor. Symphonic Strategies works with people from all walks of life to help them harmoniously use all of the forces and talents available to them to accomplish something once thought impossible. We work in both the public and private sectors, paying particular attention to human and organizational development strategies that elevate the impact and effectiveness of change agents.

US Chamber Chamber of Commerce and Taryn Bird, Manager, Global Corporate Citizenship of the company will be attending our event as a Table Sponsor. US Chamber of Commerce is a business federation representing companies, business associations, state and local chambers in the U.S., and American Chambers of Commerce abroad.

 

 

Did anyone forget a pair of glasses at our event?  We have them!

 

EWI Featured in the Greater Washington Catalogue for Philanthropy!

EWI continues to gain notoriety in the philanthropic world, recently being recognized in the Greater Washington Catalogue for Philanthropy.

Every four years, a team of “one hundred fifteen reviewers from foundations, corporations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, the philanthropic advisory community, and peer nonprofits” evaluate non-profit organizations to find those of great “distinction, merit, and impact”.

This year, Empowered Women International was selected to be an exemplary organization, to be featured for the next four years in the catalogue.

This is an amazing honor for EWI, one that we share with our women entrepreneurs, whose talents and success constantly inspire us!

The Catalogue for Philanthropy just launched their new website today. Congratulations CFP! EWI has it’s very own profile page, which you can check out HERE. Be sure to see the upcoming events and links to our social media sites.

One feature on the CFP site that we particularly appreciate are the new ways in which you can give to EWI – from a simple donation to donating in someone’s honor, to adding EWI to a gift registry and sending gift cards, it’s all there and easy to use. Check out the features HERE and consider giving today!

Thank you Catalogue for Philanthropy for this incredible honor, and all that you do for non-profit organizations in the Greater Washington area.

Steel Magnolias Show to Benefit EWI, this Thurs/Fri/Sat!

Just a reminder, this weekend only, Group Therapy Productions presents Robert Harling’s comedy-drama STEEL MAGNOLIAS, at the Convergence Sanctuary.

In honor of the 10 year anniversary, all proceeds from the show will benefit
Empowered Women International!   

STEEL MAGNOLIAS focuses on the camaraderie of six southern women who talk, gossip, and harangue each other through the best of times and comfort and repair one another through the worst. The play is alternately hilarious and touching with six female characters that are delicate as magnolias yet as strong as steel.

Performances will be:

Thursday, October 25th at 7:30 pm
Friday, October 26th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, October 27th at 5:00 pm
Saturday, October 27th at 8:00 pm

at

The Convergence Sanctuary
1801 N. Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA

Tickets are a suggested $20 donation, but no one will be turned away, please pay what you can to support EWI.

Tickets may be purchased from any cast member or email us at mailto:gt.productions9@gmail.com

About “Group Therapy Productions”

What do you get when you cross a group of sensitive actresses, a director, producer, little money but an abundance of inspiration and energy, and a burning desire to help others?  Group Therapy Productions.

The roots of “Group Therapy” can be traced to Charles Dickens.  In December of 2011, the members of “Group Therapy” were all involved in a production of A Christmas Carol at the Little Theatre of Alexandria.  Whether it was the show, the holiday, shared values, or just love of theatre, this group of women formed a strong bond that they refused to break.    The women began meeting to discuss and share their new acting ventures, classes, and life experiences.  One member jokingly called it “Group Therapy”, and the title stuck.  It was in April’s “Group Therapy” session that it dawned on them that they had the perfect cast for Steel Magnolias, and the idea took off.  In keeping with shared feelings to provide an uplifting environment of support for each other, they want to continue that objective, the fostering of women supporting women, and all proceeds from the production will go to Empowered Women International.

CAST:   STEEL MAGNOLIAS is produced by Kendall Hermsdorf and Hannah Wolf, directed by Robin Parker and showcases Janette Moman (Truvy), Rachel Gray (Annelle), Suzanne Martin (M’Lynn), Maria Ciarrocchi (Shelby), Tricia O’Neill-Politte  (Clairee), and Mary Lou Bruno (Ousier).

We are so appreciative of your generosity, thank you Group Therapy Productions!