Shop for a Cause: Uptown Liz Jewelry Gives Back to our Military

Written by Marketing Intern Rose Provine

Everyone needs to take the opportunity to appreciate and thank those who are risking their lives to protect our country. Whether you agree with the war or not, these men and women deserve our acknowledgment.  

Uptown Liz  features a number of stylish jewelry that donates to different military charitable foundations with each purchase. 

 

These flexible memory wire bracelets are made with polymer clay beads. With each purchase, 20% of proceeds are donated to Operation Gratitude, which works to send care packages to U.S. Military overseas.

This handmade glass bead necklace gives back to Operation Gratitude as well.

  

Splurge on these stylish accessories with comfort that you are contributing to a worthwhile cause. To support more causes by shopping, visit Uptown Liz.

DESIGN-HER GALS™ 3RD ANNUAL VIRTUAL WALK TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR STAGE IV BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Stage IV breast cancer is a cause very close to my heart. My sister, Liz, was diagnosed "terminal" with stage IV at the age of 26 after being misdiagnosed at 23 years old. She lost her battle just two years later.

What many don't know about Stage IV breast cancer, is how sick the patients are and how much suffering they are enduring, all while knowing they have less than a 15% chance of survival. That is why the tireless work of the champions behind the comapany Design-her Gals, which was created solely to support the Gal to Gal Foundation, is so meaningful.

Please join me, along with Kristin Chenoweth, Marg Helgenberger, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Stephen Covery and more as we virtually walk across the United States in the third annual Gal to Gal Walk. The foundation, which is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families, hopes to raise $250,000 in 31 days.

This year’s Walk is dedicated to Dorit Shapiro, the former President of the Gal to Gal Foundation. A freelance technical writer and mother of two, Dorit was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 2006, and lost her brave battle in October of 2008, only a week into the Virtual Walk fundraiser.

“We are honored to have these notable individuals and companies enhance the virtual walk experience, which will unite women and men from all walks of life. This initiative will help benefit a group of individuals who are facing the most difficult battle of their lives,” commented Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her Gals and Gal to Gal Foundation. Fitzmaurice is a previous breast cancer “Champion” selected by Yoplait and Susan G. Komen. “As we strive to raise awareness and funds for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families, our goal is to bring dignity and comfort to those who need it most.”

To join the walk, go to http://www.galtogalwalk.org/ and create your likeness for a $5 donation. Invite friends, share your story and receive product discounts through sponsors.

Dorit Shapiro, President of Gal to Gal Foundation, Loses Her Battle With Breast Cancer at 38

In loving memory of Dorit Shapiro, President of the Gal to Gal Foundation, who passed away on October 12, 2008 from Stage IV breast cancer. Dorit was only 38 years old and had two children at the ages of 8 and 4. Please read her inspiring letter (below) and help us honor her memory by granting her only wish this October and raise $250,000 on the Gal to Gal Foundation Virtual Walk. Click Here to join the walk today. To see a video tribute of Dorit, click here.

I first heard about Design-her-Gals and the Gal to Gal Foundation in May 2006, more than two years ago. I had been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer six months earlier, and I was very excited to hear about an organization that was working so hard to raise awareness about women and their families living with this serious condition. And the gals were so cute and glam—my then-six-year-old daughter just loved creating gals, and I admit it, I did too. Since I was in the midst of my first chemo regimen, I was glad to find a scarf option that my gal could wear. I remember writing to DHG, asking if a “beat cancer” t-shirt could be created, as that had become my mantra during my tough battle. Jeanne Fitzmaurice, the Gal’s Gal, wrote back to me and that began a virtual friendship that has blossomed over the past two years.

A Little About Me…
I am a wife and mother to two beautiful daughters, ages 4 and 8. I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer at the age of 35. My diagnosis came as a complete shock since there was no family history of any cancer and I was leading what I thought was a healthy, though stressful, typical Mom lifestyle. A few weeks after my diagnosis, during routine pre-chemo testing, the news went from bad to worse—the cancer had already spread and my initial diagnosis was stage IV breast cancer. We were devastated! At the time, we were told that only 20 percent of patients with my diagnosis lived another five years.

Initially, I thought I was just told that I was dying from breast cancer. Now, I believe that I am living with advanced breast cancer, waging a battle against a tough enemy. My cancer diagnosis has brought about a significant transformation in my life. Some of its impact is obvious—enduring treatments and tests, physical discomfort, and some sleepless nights. But other changes may seem surprising, such as acceptance of my situation, perseverance to beat a formidable opponent, and appreciation of the blessings I have in my life. Before my cancer diagnosis, I got caught up in trivial details that now seem so unimportant, like how others perceive me. I believe that my cancer diagnosis has been a gift; it has changed my life and helped me realize that I have so many things to be grateful for, like my family and good friends.
My Involvement with Gal to Gal…

In October 2007, when I heard about the virtual walk the Gal to Gal Foundation was conducting, I enthusiastically joined with my daughters and husband. I felt so deeply that the world needs to know about what living with stage IV breast cancer is like, that I wrote to my local newspapers and television stations. My letter to the editor was published in our neighborhood paper, and my oldest daughter and I were interviewed for our local news. The story was eventually shown by nearly 15 affiliates around the country. My involvement with the Gal to Gal Foundation shifted from huge fan and supporter to Board Member, when Jeanne invited me to formally participate in the Foundation and bring my skills and enthusiasm to enhance our mission.

In May 2008, exactly two years from when I first heard about DHG and GTG, Jeanne and the Board of Directors asked me to serve as President of the Gal to Gal Foundation Board of Directors. I am truly humbled by the honor to represent an organization who lends a voice to women like me who are living with stage IV breast cancer every day. I feel a strong, personal connection to our mission, and my participation with GTG has given me a new-found purpose and inspired me to speak up for the women who may not feel comfortable using the term “survivor,” but are surviving every day, facing obstacles with courage and hope. Though I never had the privilege of meeting Robin and Janis, the inspiration for our Foundation, my goal is to honor their memories as well as the memories of all the women who have lost their battles to this tough enemy so that women and families living with stage IV breast cancer are never forgotten and receive the support they need and deserve. I hope you will join me in supporting this wonderful organization until there comes a day when we are not needed because we have found a cure and no one must face living with this diagnosis.

With Love and Gratitude,
Dorit Shapiro

Oakland Natives Give Back

The Oakland Natives Give Back Fund (ONGBF) held their 1st Annual Back To School Youth Expo in August to give back to the city of Oakland, while empowering youth with what they consider to be the building block of success – education.

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and the City of Oakland partnered with OGNBF to give over 730 book bags with school supplies at Oakland City Hall as part of the OUSD's Attend and Achieve campaign. The organization also received support from the Future Foundation, Usher’s New Look Foundation, The Lost Ones, and the Effective Teachers for Oakland Task Force.

More than 900 people attended Youth Expo 2008, where they enjoyed an afternoon filled with fun activities, gifts and entertainment. Youth learned about the importance of education as well as violence prevention and public safety as part of the city of Oakland’s Measure Y campaign.

The event provided of a variety of entertainment and appearances by celebrities and professional athletes which included: the Fashion Rocks youth fashion show, spoken word artists Ise Lyfe and Oakland native Jimmy Reign, dance trio Total Package, Sacramento Kings’ Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Boston Celtics’ Leon Powe , San Francisco 49ers’ Allen Rossum, and Oakland natives MTV News Host Sway Calloway, Tony! Toni! Tone! recording artist Dwayne Wiggins and his nephew, 13-year-old Ali-Khan Lochin, who served as the DJ.

Motivational speeches were given by various city and school officials, including Oakland Chief of Staff Leslie Littleton, Director of Education Kitty Epstein, OUSD State Administrator Vincent Matthews and OUSD Interim Superintendent Roberta Mayor. Other notables included speaker Keith L. Brown, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies and entrepreneur Michael Parker, founder of Lifeskills 411.

Oakland Natives Give Back Fund was co-founded by Delicia “Dee Dee” Abdur-Rahim, Nyeisha DeWitt and Tameka Raymond (all natives of Oakland) who want to be an example to all Oakland natives by declaring that “your commitment to the community in which you reside should not supersede your contribution to the community in which you were reared”. Currently, ONGBF is fiscally sponsored by the Future Foundation.

Uptown Liz founder, Ramona Russell, was happy to volunteer at this event by passing out book bags to the eager students. To support education by shopping, go to the education page on Uptown Liz.

Photo captions: Top left photo - the crowd at the Youth Expo 2008. Bottom right photo - Co-founders Tameka Raymond (left), Delicia "Dee Dee" Abdur-Rahim and Nyeisha DeWitt.

Gal to Gal Virtual Walk Offers Major Publicity for Companies

Last year the Gal to Gal Foundation - a nonprofit dedicated to helping stage IV breast cancer patients and their families - had great companies sponsoring their first-ever Virtual Walk (Yoplait, FTD.com, Fodors and others). Now it's your turn! Your company can be featured throughout the Walk, the press coverage and all publicity opportunities both on http://www.galtogalwalk.org/ and on http://www.designhergals.com/. This opportunity will give you exposure to thousands of visitors daily. Additionally, they are working on two new PR events - an opening party in New York, and a "Viral Video" with celebrities endorsing the Walk - and they are working on ways to incorporate their sponsors into these events as well.

Please take a moment to look through their Partnership Tiers, which include several levels of sponsorship opportunities, as well as inclusion in celebrity gift bags. Last year during the Virtual Walk:

* They raised more than $200,000 - and used the funds to sponsor education programs and to grant wishes for advanced stage breast cancer patients and their families through Making Memories.
* Over 10,000 walkers participated.
* Nearly 500,000 unique visits to the Web site in 30 days.
* Media and sponsorship reached over 5 million - including national exposure on CBS, ABC, and The Martha Stewart Show - among many other radio, web and print spots.

This year's 2nd Annual Walk in October will include:

* You can walk in "teams" with your friends and associates - even celebrities!
* Your Guy Pals will be able to create their guy walker.
* Several dozen celebrity endorsements.
* Enhanced "reach" - leading companies like FranklinCovey will promote the Walk to their customer base and distribution channels.

If you are interested in being a sponsor - or lending your support in another way - please go to http://www.galtogalwalk.org/ for more information. Ignore the deadline on their sponsorship page. All levels are still open, but spaces are limited.

If you are not interested in being a sponsor, but would still like to support the organization, you can send a donation to: Gal to Gal Foundation, 777 Wall St., Suite 203B, Bend, OR 97701. Click here to make a donation online. If you can’t donate financially – then consider a link out from their Web site to the Walk site? They will have “grab n go” Walk banners available September 1st.

Dragonfly Designs Improves the World One Bead at a Time

"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

Stacee Gillelen's grandparents first opened her eyes to the art and beauty in nature when she was a child. She loved to work beside them as they explored many different forms of artistic expression, from gardening and painting to mosaic, sculpting, and stained glass. Over the years, they have continued to be her greatest source of inspiration.

Stacee's passion for beading began one day while she was making jewelry with her three young daughters. She discovered how to attach a clasp, and the love affair began! She started taking classes at local beading stores and couldn't stop practicing her newfound skills. Soon Stacee was dreaming about beads and patterns that she could make into jewelry. With beads, she found yet another artful way to express the beauty she found in nature and in her imagination. In February of 2005, she launched Dragonfly Designs. Their mission is to offer exceptional handmade jewelry and the opportunity to create it, while promoting social justice, personal style and fun.

Stacee feels immense gratitude for the abundance in her life and for the opportunities she has been given. She also feels a personal responsibility as a global citizen to give something back to the community, which is why she donates 10% of each sale from Dragonfly Designs jewelry to organizations that work to improve the human condition (especially for women and children), promote equality, and protect the environment. Some of the non-profits that have benefitted from her generosity are The Princess Project, People's Grocery, National Resource Defense Council, Heifer International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Union of Concerned Scientists, Gal to Gal Foundation, Nest and W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Stacee is constantly looking for small grassroots organizations that meet her giving standards. For more information or if you have a suggestion, please go to http://www.jewelrybydfly.com/.

Allyson Collins Does Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Liz's Memory

Last year my mother and I co-captained a Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society in Liz’s memory for the first time. We raised over $22,000 – breaking all fundraising records – and won four awards in the process. For several reasons (mainly busy schedules), we will not be doing it this year. However for the third year in a row, our dear friend, Allyson Collins, will be doing the two day, 40 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in my sister's memory.

Allyson was with my family through all of Liz's illness and was incredibly supportive. Despite living, working and going to school in San Francisco, she visited Liz every time she was hospitalized. During the end of Liz's life - while Allyson was in finals at school - she drove to Stockton every day she could (sometimes in the middle of the night) and held vigil in the hospital with us. She slept on the floor of my mother's house the nights immediately following Liz's death and held my hand as I walked behind my sister's casket, barely able to watch my 24 year old brother and husband be some of the young men to carry it.

We are forever grateful to Allyson for her dedication to our family and Liz's memory. Please join me in supporting her efforts to raise money for this wonderful cause. You can make a donation by going to Allyson's personal page before July 12th (click here).

McClatchy Varsity Baseball Team Goes Bald for Childhood Cancer

My friend and head varsity baseball coach of C.K. McClatchy high school, Mike de Necochea, is helping to strike out childhood cancer. Mike, along with his players and assistant coaches, will be shaving their heads to help bring awareness for the St. Baldrick's Foundation - the world's biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer. In eight years, events have taken place in 18 countries and 46 US states, raising over $34 million, and shaving more than 46,000 heads.

The C.K. McClatchy baseball team's event takes place on Saturday, April 5th at 12:00 p.m. at the CKM varsity baseball field and everyone is welcome to attend. To donate and help with this wonderful cause, go to the CKM Baseball page. If you would like to go bald or volunteer, you can register online and start sending out the message that CKM Baseball cares about their community.

Virtual Walk Supports Stage IV Breast Cancer

I knew almost nothing about stage IV breast cancer before my sister, Liz, was diagnosed with it. Her battle and brutal death from the disease taught me all too well its meaning. Just a few months after Liz passed, I came across one of the coolest websites – designhergals.com. Being a stationery addict, I was instantly intrigued by creating your own virtual gal (with a closet full of couture clothes to chose from) to put on note cards, stickers, mugs, aprons and more. When I discovered that the company directly supported the Gal to Gal Foundation (the first non-profit that supports stage IV breast cancer patients and their family) with every sale, I knew I was meant to find this company.

Since that time, I have promoted the company to everyone I know and formed a relationship with founder Jeanne Fitzmaurice. I feel honored to know such an amazing woman as Jeanne, and to have the opportunity to make a difference as a soon-to-be board member of the Gal to Gal Foundation. Although tragedy has drawn us together, it is passion and purpose that bonds us.

Design-her Gals, Gal to Gal Foundation, Virtual Walk

Jeanne Fitzmaurice has always believed that when passion and purpose collide magical things happen! She never knew how true that was until her son was born. She waited a lifetime for that day and it was that moment she knew that he was brought into her life to make a difference. He taught her that “you can make a plan but you can’t plan the results”. From the moment Jeanne held him in her arms, she knew it was he who was going to be her teacher rather than the other way around.

Max was born when Jeanne seemed to be “at the top of her game”. She was considered a high powered entrepreneur who had built a successful resort management company. Traveling between countries and experiencing a lifestyle many would envy. The truth was that she was miserable. She found no purpose in her work and when she finally had her son, Jeanne realized that she needed to do something to change not only her attitude but her circumstances.

Through many starts and stops Jeanne wound her way down the “pot holed dirt road” and founded an interactive company online (Design-her Gals) that allowed users to create their virtual likeness and produce it in an assortment of stationery and gift items. The day she decided to do this project she heard that her best friend, Janis, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Like the day her son was born, it is one she will never forget. Jeanne knew that Janis (and the rest her friends and family) was in for a difficult journey, and it was because of that experience (on the heals of her cousin Robin who passed away of Stage IV breast cancer at the age of 45 leaving behind a husband and a six year old daughter) she knew that Design-her Gals must be put to work to make a difference.

Jeanne vowed to make the passion and purpose of Design-her Gals to be to raise funds and awareness for stage IV breast cancer patients. At the same time she founded the Gal to Gal Foundation, a non-profit organization where 100% of the resources go to stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. Before Janis lost her brave battle, she helped craft the mission statement for the foundation and Jeanne knows she and Robin would be proud of the work that they are doing. Currently the foundation grants the majority of their funds to Making Memories, a wonderful organization who is granting wishes for stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. But in 2008, it is Jeanne’s hope to launch the first global social networking website that will allow breast cancer patients and their families to connect by engaging and obtaining resources through the progression of their disease.

On October 1st, the Gal to Gal Foundation launched the first virtual walk across America which (http://www.galtogalwalk.org/) dedicates itself to Robin and Janis and all the women (and men) who have battled so bravely and lost so graciously. It is their hope that the money raised by joining together in this inspiring way will allow those currently living with stage IV breast cancer to have the opportunity to receive the resources and support that they so greatly deserve.

Jeanne was lucky to have walked with Janis in the San Diego 3-day walk the year prior to her death. She will never forget it; it seems fitting that the virtual walk is a walk that everyone can join in together. $3 and 3 minutes will allow you the opportunity to design your virtual walker and watch yourself join thousands of others (celebrities as well) walk from the virtual city of Boston (Robin’s hometown) to San Francisco (Janis’ Hometown), stopping in 29 additional cities along the way.

Let’s show the power the internet can have in making a big difference to so many in such a short period of time. Send out emails or go to http://www.galtogo.com/ and grab a banner to post on your blog or website! Please join the walk to help reach the goal to register one million walkers by October 31st.