Power Links Hosts a Cartier Golf Giveaway

Article written by guest blogger Melissa Long

Baseball isn’t the only sport with diamonds! For all of you women golfers out there, you are in luck. Power Links, a company devoted to promoting the sport of golf for business women, is currently giving away a diamond Cartier bracelet to the woman who reviews the most golf courses and posts them on their Web site by August 28th. The rings on the bracelet represent Ovarian Cancer Research, the charity Power Links is supporting this year.

Rules and guidelines for the contest:
• This is an international contest.
• You are allowed to add courses that are not currently represented on the site.
• All reviews must be a minimum of three sentences.
• All reviews should be insightful and informative.
• All reviews are subject to review by Power Links, and will not be considered if insufficient or irrelevant (as determined by Power Links).

More information about Power Links and the Cartier contest can be found at http://www.powerlinksgolf.com/

To shop for products that support Ovarian Cancer Research, go to Uptown Liz.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Support From Home Helps Our Troops

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

They say the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup, but I know that the best part of my morning is not just the coffee in my cup. Even though I’m not a coffee fanatic, I still enjoy a nice iced mocha, cappuccino, or simply a strong blended cup of Joe. But by far the best part of my “waking up” is knowing that the coffee I am drinking is making a difference.

That’s why I’m a huge supporter of the new Support From Home ground coffee blend from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf! This medium blend coffee was created to honor our brave men and women of the Armed Forces. With its dark and distinctive taste, this coffee has “a fruity aroma and a black cherry flavor with a dark chocolate finish”; now that’s something I want to wake up to! But besides just honoring our soldiers, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also gives back to them as well.

One dollar from every bag of coffee sold goes directly to the Fisher House Foundation; an organization that donates homes to major military and VA medical centers. These homes provide a place for family members to reside while their hero needs medical attention. Fisher House makes a promise that no family ever has to pay to stay at one of these houses.

What a great, creative way to help our troops. Hats off to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf! Our soldiers fight to protect our country and now we can help them in their time of need. I encourage everyone to buy this coffee! Our troops do so much for us that this is the least we can do for them. Now you can wake up satisfied, knowing that you are giving back to our soldiers just by drinking a cup of coffee.

To shop more products that support our troops, go the military page on Uptown Liz.

P.S. Dear Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf...please come to Sacramento.

Neero & Ana's Pillow Cases Help Cancer Patients

Doreen Motton always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur, but had no clue about what she would market. Then several years ago, while attending a conference at a New York City hotel, she recognized the name of a childhood friend on the lobby's directory, as the host of a celebration. Curious, Doreen made her way to the event room suite and found a quaint gathering of familiar friends. The party was a celebration of the hostess's life, or what was left of it; she had been diagnosed with cancer and had only six more months to live. Doreen knew that her business had to incorporate giving back.

Within months, Doreen founded Neero & Ana, Inc. and immediately reached out to health related charities and organizations to offer support to those with major medical challenges. The company has become a trusted manufacturer of the medically recommended Satin Hydration Therapy® brand satin pillowcase. Doreen initially began donating satin pillowcases for special cancer survivorship events and eventually incorporated this practice of giving as a permanent part of the company's business plan.

The botanically sleek bridal satin hair and skin savers provide a simple solution for women everywhere seeking to defend the signs of aging and restore healthier hair. The fact that the American Cancer Society recommends satin for cancer sufferers during the hair re-growth period was an added plus for the brand and is the major charity of choice for Neero & Ana.

The company takes a 21st century approach in developing sensible products that embrace a "back to basics" regimen in personal care. Focusing on remedies that promote healthier lifestyles, add value to squeezed beauty budgets and help those particularly challenged is Neero & Ana's platform for existence. The organic beauty savers can be found online and in finer salons & spas.

To shop for more products that support cancer-related charities, go to the cancer page on Uptown Liz.

Photo caption: Founder and CEO of Neero & Ana, Inc. Doreen Motton

Uptown Liz Turns Two

July 17, 2009

Happy Anniversary to Uptown Liz! Two years ago, I launched this business in memory of my 28 year old sister, Liz, who died from breast cancer on what would have been her thirtieth birthday. Not a day goes by that I'm not constantly thinking about her or desperately missing her.

I feel incredibly blessed to have this business and want to thank all of my family, friends, colleagues, retailers and nonprofits who have been so supportive. Your inspirational stories and thoughtful e-mails continue to drive me and, with your help, I have been able to create a legacy for my sister and shine a light on people who are making a difference in the world. It has been such a wonderful two years; I like to think that Liz is working her magic for me.

In gratitude,
Ramona Russell
Founder

UPTOWN LIZ HIGHLIGHTS

·October 2006: Ramona Russell created an e-mail newsletter for breast cancer awareness that sparked the idea for Uptown Liz.
·April 2007: Ramona Russell starting working on the business by joining a Ladies Who Launch incubator and forming a focus group with some of the members.
·July 2007: Ramona Russell launched Uptown Liz on July 17th.
·August 2007: Ramona Russell interviewed by former CNN news anchor, Daryn Kagan.
·August 2007: Uptown Liz reached over 95,000 hits.
·September 2007: Uptown Liz reached over 127,000 hits.
·October 2007: Uptown Liz featured on Great Day Houston.
·October 2007: Ramona Russell featured on Good Day Sacramento.
·October 2007: Uptown Liz reached over 158,000 hits.
·January 2008: Uptown Liz featured on KillerStartups.com.
·January 2008: Uptown Liz featured on Lucky magazine's blog.
·January 2008: Uptown Liz reached over 190,000 hits.
January 2008: ek designs creates the "Uptown Girl Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet" in Liz's memory.
·March 2008: Uptown Liz reached over 220,000 hits.
·April 2008: Ramona Russell invited to participate on the business panel for Microsoft Office Live Small Business' Vision to Venture Conference.
·May 2008: Ramona Russell interviewed by SBTV.com.
·October 2008: The stories of Liz and Uptown Liz featured in FranklinCovey planners.
·October 2008: Fuffy J. Couture creates "The Liz Collection" handbags in Liz's memory.
·October 2008: Ramona Russell interviewed on Good Day Sacramento.
·October 2008: Uptown Liz reached over 330,000 hits.
·November 2008: Ramona Russell featured on FOX News.
·December 2008: Ramona Russell featured in BusinessWeek.
·December 2008: Ramona Russell featured in Sactown Magazine.
·January 2009: Uptown Liz featured in Sacramento Magazine.

Help promote Uptown Liz on your Web site, blog, profiles on social networking sites, etc. Feel free to use the beautiful banners on our Web site. Make sure to read our blog for articles on product reviews, companies and people who are making a difference around the world. To make sure you never miss an entry, you can subscribe to our feed and receive new articles through your e-mail. You can also join our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. Uptown Liz adds new products every week, so be sure to check our Web site often.

Photo caption: Ramona Russell (left) and her sister Elizabeth "Liz" Overturf as little girls.

Save the Ta-tas Donates over $300,000 to Breast Cancer Charities

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

SAVE THE TA-TA’S! Thanks to this brand, many more second bases have indeed been saved! Causing smiles and laughter for over five years, ta-tas Brand Clothing has encouraged women in all stages of breast cancer to feel beautiful and confident.

Founded by Julia Fikse in 2004, ta-tas Brand Clothing was created to help fund breast cancer research and education. Customers can go to http://www.savethetatas.com/ and find everything from men’s, women’s and children’s apparel to accessories and fun items, such as their unique boob lube (a special soap designed to encourage women to do self breast exams). For every purchase made, ta-tas Brand Clothing donates 5% of all sales to the fight against breast cancer.

After such little time, ta-tas Brand Clothing has gained respect in the community by: being a sponsor of the Revlon Run/Walk, attending the 2008 Emmy Awards and BET Awards, and being featured in Newsweek, HQ, and Shape magazines.

To date, this power house company has greatly impacted the nonprofit community by donating over $313,000 to help wipe out breast cancer. Now the community is giving back to them; on Sunday, May 31, 2009, ta-tas Brand Clothing received a Corporation for Evolution Humanitarian award from the Hollywood Note Foundation for all of their efforts in their fight against breast cancer.

For more information on ta-tas Brand Clothing go to http://www.savethetatas.com/.

Need for Charitable Giving Increases, Along with Retail Sales

Article written by guest blogger Melissa Long

With these tough economic times, more than just our wallets are suffering; but also the stomachs of the hungry, the hearts of the forsaken, and the minds of the uneducated. Now, more than ever we need to do what we can to help needy charities. Why not buy a little something for yourself while doing so? By shopping at Uptown Liz, you are not only buying gifts for your loved one’s special occasions, but you are also helping the less fortunate.

A recent article published with The New York Times online states, “Charitable giving fell last year by the largest percentage in five decades”, according to the Giving USA Foundation; an organization that researches data about charitable giving and philanthropy. In 2008, there was a 5.7 percent decrease in gifts and pledges made by individuals and institutions from the previous year; this amount is adjusted for inflation and equals a decrease of $6.35 billion. With such great economic trouble, experts are surprised the drop was not greater, since endowments and stocks fell by almost 40 percent and unemployment is at an all time high. Donations were doing well for the better part of 2007, but it was around the last quarter when “we saw individuals begin to revisit their philanthropic priorities” as stated by Giving USA.

Also around this time about two-thirds of all public charities faced a decline in donations. According to Del Martin, the chairwoman of Giving USA, what was most surprising “was the decline in gifts to organizations working to meet basic needs, like food banks and homeless shelters, which are seeing a big increase in demand for their services”.

Even with this decline, retail sales have increased by .5 percent in May, according to the Commerce Department; this is the first rise in the overall industry in three months. Now in the summer months, students are graduating, fathers are being recognized, and birthdays are still being celebrated. People have always liked to show their loved ones they care, by showering them with gifts. Why not show your loved ones you care and also donate to nonprofit organizations?

By utilizing sites like Uptown Liz, you can shop and help others at the same time. For every purchase made, you will feel no buyer’s remorse knowing that a percentage of the sale will go to a charity in need. While browsing, you can search through products or causes, which makes it easier to find the perfect gift or to support the organization of your choice.

Now is the time to help. Cyndi Court, the executive vice president for marketing and development for The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, says this year is not looking any better. “We’re definitely anticipating another down year”. Imagine what a difference we could make if everyone shopped for a cause!