Soroptimist & Rossi Unite for Gift Fundraising Program

Shop to Benefit Soroptimist: www.soroptimistnortheasternregion.org

Some combinations just seemed destined to be together. Peanut butter and jelly. Peaches and cream. Peas and carrots. Karen Rossi and Soroptimist. Bringing together an artist who creates whimsical artwork that celebrates life and relationships, especially relationships between girlfriends and women, with a volunteer service organization whose motto is "Best for Women" seemed a perfect match.

It all began when Kathy McAfee called Karen for a donation. The call came during a week that had been especially overwhelming, as far as donation requests were concerned. Juggling and responding to such requests from all over the country can be a daunting task, especially when one wants to be able to answer each and every call and email. However, as Karen is the artist and not the manufacturer, inventory is not kept at Rossi Studios. Instead, the products are designed by Karen's studio and the companies that license her work house the manufactured products. As Karen explained her frustration to Kathy, they both agreed that it would benefit all if Karen could focus her efforts through cause-related marketing with a national non-profit organization. Kathy had just the organization in mind.

Soroptimist International is a volunteer service organization that is made up of almost 100,000 professional and community-minded women around the world. It was founded in 1921 in California, at a time when most service clubs, like the Rotary, did not accept women. The group is focused on improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. The word "Soroptimist" is actually derived from two Latin words "Soror" and "Optima" and means "The Best for Women."

Soroptimists organize themselves into local clubs and these clubs determine what service needs exists within their local communities. They do local fundraising, mentor young girls, provide grants for women trying to better themselves through education, network and build friendships, and learn about issues affecting women and girls locally and globally. Soroptimists also participate in several international projects, such as Project Independence, where critical relief, support and new job skills training is being brought to thousands of women survivors of war in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda.

On a more local level, the clubs create their own unique fundraising programs, like the newly launched Soroptimist / Karen Rossi Fundraising Gift Program, to help raise money. This fundraising program features six gift items from the Karen Rossi Studios collection, including elegant note cards, a 2006 calendar and decorative glass plaques. The gifts will be sold directly by over 1,000club members of the Soroptimist International from the Northeastern and South Central Regions, which includes Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Alabama. To view the fundraising gift items, go to www.soroptimistnortheasternregion.org/krfundraiser.htm
You can download an order form and mail in your order with pre-paid check no later than November 11th in order to guarantee delivery before Xmas. For more information, you can send an email to soroptimistfundraiser@yahoo.com

Proceeds from the fundraising program will go towards local service projects.
One such club, the Soroptimist International of Farmington Valley, will be devoting its proceeds from the Soroptimist-Karen Rossi Fundraising Gift Program to My Sisters' Place, a non-profit organization focused on providing emergency shelter and transitional housing to women and their families at risk of homelessness in the Hartford, CT area.

"We are very excited about this new fundraising program. Karen's artful designs really reflect the spirit of friendship among women. Her vision closely aligns with the Soroptimist's mission to improve the lives of women and girls locally as well as around the world. With her help, my local Farmington Valley club hopes to raise more than $2,500 to benefit My Sisters' Place, an important service provider to local women in need." stated Soroptimist member and co-creator of this fundraising program, Kathy McAfee.

To learn more about Soroptimist International, you can visit www.soroptimist.org. Working together, we can improve the lives of women and girls in our local community and around the world. So go ahead, and have fun shopping for yourself and the special people in your life this holiday season. It's all for a good cause!