23
Jun
The Lower Eastside Girls Club Throws West Coast Fundraiser
by Morgan Schimminger
0 Comments | Posted by thatgirl in Better to Give, Organized Aid
Sipping wine, sampling high-caliber munchies and mingling with a cavalcade of entertaining characters — not to mention rubbing elbows with the luminous Rosario Dawson. Sounds like your typical happy hour, right? (Well perhaps minus hanging out with Rosario Dawson.)
But this Thursday night get-together was far from standard. On June 4, Corkbar hosted a fundraiser for the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Guests provided a donation to the Girls Club for the opportunity to attend the social event. The happy-hour-with-a-cause featured periodic updates on the Lakers game unfolding nearby at the Staples Center, and a raffle where a variety of luxury items were up for grabs. Prizes included a one-month Pilates gift certificate and a Clinique basket chock full of must-have skin care essentials. Dawson played emcee and even expertly modeled the stellar pair of Jimmy Choo shades being raffled off as she read the winning number.
The Lower Eastside Girls Club was created back in 1996 to provide services targeted toward the female set, since girls were left out of the local “boys” club. The nonprofit offers programs designed to develop environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership in this lesser-served region of New York City. Girls have the opportunity to delve into digital filmmaking (check out their impressive girl-produced videos at Girlsclubvideo.blip.tv/), a community radio station and even nutrition workshops.
The entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in their three social venture businesses; The Art+Community Gallery, La Tiendita Fair Trade and Girl Made Gift Shop at the Essex Market and the Sweet Things Bake Shop. The funds being raised by events like the one in L.A. will go towards the construction of New York City’s first and only Girls Club facility that will house the organization’s current endeavors (along with several new ventures) all under one convenient and eco-friendly roof. The new green center is scheduled to open in 2011.
For more information on this positive demonstration of real girl power, head over to Girlsclub.org.
photo courtesy of wag staff worldwide