Save the Date for the 2010 Planting Hope Gala

Please save the date for Plant With Purpose’s biggest fundraising event of the year! Join us on Saturday, October 9th at 6:00 p.m. at the La Jolla Marriott for an inspiring evening at the 2010 Planting Hope Gala dinner and auction. The event will include exciting silent and live auctions, an IPAD raffle, an exceptional dinner, and an opportunity to help the rural poor and learn more about Plant With Purpose. This year will be particularly critical as we raise funds and awareness for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Please visit our gala web page to preview photos and descriptions of our impressive auction items: http://www.plantwithpurpose.org/page/73/gala.html.

Guests will have the opportunity to register online in early August.

Please contact Kate McElhinney at kate@plantwithpurpose.org if you are interested in donating an auction item or volunteering at the event.

We hope to see you there!

Here is a sneak peek at some of this year's items:

* Just the Two of Us A $100 gift certificate to Arterra Restaurant

*Fore! A complimentary round of golf for 4 people at La Costa Resort and Spa

*A Gardner's Paradise A beautiful succulent arrangement by Courtyard Pottery, along with gardening tools, a $25 gift certificate, and a book on succulents

*Cheers! 4 wine tasting coupons each good for 2 guests at Orfila Vineyards

*Fun on Wheels 2 gift certificates to free skating parties at Skateworld

*Bon Appétit! A chef's tasting for 4 at Market Restaurant & Bar

*Girl's Day Out Lunch for 4 at the Zodiac, makeovers, and 4 $50 gift certificates at Neiman Marcus

* Ensenada Getaway 4 days and 3 nights at a beautiful condo in Ensenada, Mexico

*Vancouver Getaway A one week stay at a 2-bedroom condo in Living Shangri-La, Vancouver, Canada

*Come Sail Away An afternoon sail on San Diego Bay for up to 5 guests with Plant With Purpose Executive Director, Scott Sabin

*Paella for your Pleasure A paella dinner with a cooking demo for 8 people with Chef Fri Reyes

Plant With Purpose Celebrates its Most Successful Gala Ever!

By Kate McElhinney

Last week was a busy one for everyone here at Plant With Purpose as we geared up for the Planting Hope Gala. Our printers were launched into overdrive as they pumped out bidder numbers. Baskets were stuffed and primped for the silent auction. Our awesome volunteers pitched in with last minute details. Then, before you know it, lights, camera action! The big night had arrived.

Stinky socks aside, (sorry Aly, I couldn’t resist!) the evening was a huge success. We had over 300 guests enjoy the opportunity to learn more about Plant With Purpose and support its efforts on behalf of the rural poor around the world. Bill Menish, the auctioneer for the evening, kept the energy alive during the silent and live auctions, and the evening was truly filled with merriment as everyone celebrated Floresta / Plant With Purpose’s 25^th anniversary.

I thought things would settle down this week, but the opposite has occurred! There is a current of excitement throughout the office that has carried over from Saturday night. The administrative department has been hard at work tallying up the final numbers from the evening, and with each calculation there have been new reasons to celebrate.

Now what you have all been waiting for…I am pleased to announce that our final total for the evening is $317,000!! This is a tremendous figure and more than we could have hoped for. And this is a huge jump from last year’s total, which was $262,228.

The most successful part of the evening was the Fund a Need auction. During this time, guests had the opportunity to learn more about our programs and their specific needs such as agro-forestry loans in the Dominican Republic, credit corporatives in Tanzania, and reforestation projects in Burundi. At the end of the Fund a Need auction, paddles flew up left and right as people committed to planting a forest of trees. It’s amazing that for only a dollar you can plant one tree…and at the gala we raised $13,000 to plant 13,000 trees!

Plant With Purpose sends out a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the Planting Hope gala! Whether it was through attendance, volunteering, giving or prayer, we want to thank you all for supporting this event. And a special thank you to Shirley Billingsley, the Committee Chair, whose dedication and attention to detail made a huge impact on the evening. Thank you, Shirley, for all your hard work!

Knocking Socks Off and Transforming Lives

by Aly Lewis

The verdict is in: my socks were knocked off. By Plant With Purpose’s 2009 Planting Hope Gala last Saturday, that is. It was a delightful evening of high energy Plant With Purpose supporting, socializing, and celebrating.

Here are the top 3 reasons my socks really were knocked off:

1. I didn’t trip in my heels all night, as I gallivanted around catching up with old friends, classmates, and coworkers, sneaking Hershey’s kisses off the silent auction tables, and sharing my Plant With Purpose savvy with anyone who would listen.

2. Journey to Africa By far one of the most meaningful parts of the evening was getting to meet Edith Banzi. Edith is our local director in Tanzania and we had the honor of hearing her talk about the amazing work and progress that is taking place in our program there. Mama Floresta, as she’s know throughout the communities, shared about the latest projects—double dug gardens, wood saving stoves, and Village Community Banks—talked about the transformation she’s seen in the lives of the farmers she works with—improved incomes, increased confidence, and hope for the future—and gave us a little taste of the excitement, dedication, and compassion she shares with farmers and families in her part of the world. It’s a privilege to join with partners like Edith in this transformational work.

3. Rolling in the Benjamins I’m not going to spill the financial beans or steal Kate’s Gala recapping thunder, but I will say that this year’s gala was our most successful gala in Plant With Purpose history! The big bucks aside, the fact that over 300 people chose to spend their Saturday evening learning about, celebrating, and supporting Plant With Purpose is a huge encouragement to me. Seriously. I’ll stop here before the Aly Lewis Cry Fest has a chance to begin.

Anyways, check out these fun pics from the evening and stay tuned for Kate’s Official Gala Recap to be posted tomorrow.

*PS If anyone has found my knocked-off-socks please return them to the Plant With Purpose office at your convenience. My sockless feet are not liking the cold fall nights.

Oo-la-la Ga-la-la

Confessions of a non-schmoozer and new owner of a “little black dress”

by Aly Lewis

I don’t attend many “black tie optional” events. Sure, my friends occasionally get married at venues other than the beach and require their guests to wear apparel other than sun dresses and flips flops, but I must admit it’s not often. My tendency toward introversion and my general aversion to high heels often compel me to shy away from fancy-dress frolicking and gala gallivanting. But this weekend is Plant With Purpose’s 2009 Planting Hope Gala, and, somewhat to my astonishment, I couldn’t be more excited to gear up for some good ole mingling and the chance to test drive my newly (thrift store) purchased little black dress. And here’s why:

Top 10 Reasons the Gala Will Knock My (and your) Socks Off*

1. Hershey Kisses as Hors d'oeuvres

Who doesn’t love tasty pre-dinner chocolate treats?

2. Business Casuals Dressed to the Nines

Seeing my coworkers primped and preened: priceless.

3. Family Reunion

For me personally the gala will serve as an actual family reunion. My parents are coming in from Northern California for the event and my brother and his girlfriend will be attending as well. What’s more, the gala serves to reunite old friends, coworkers, and classmates. And beyond family lines, the gala unites us all as one Plant With Purpose family, joining together to transform the lives of the rural poor.

4. Goody bags

They were the best part of childhood birthday parties and, if we’re honest with ourselves, they’re still pretty great. This year we even have goody-bag-size bags of coffee from our friends at Malindi Coffee. Can you say cute caffeine?!

5. Killer Deals at the Silent Auction

Trust me, there are some sweet deals and packages in the silent auction this year. We’ve had companies from all over donate lots of unique, elegant, and just darn fun items. Here’s a little sneak peak: San Diego Sightseer and Lego My Eggo includes tickets to an array of local San Diego museums as well as to Legoland. Inline Fun with In ‘N Out Yum features a Skateworld party and In ‘N Out gift certificates. Little Kung Fu Guru offers authentic Kung Fu training for kids. And we have loads more of exciting packages, exclusive getaways, and entertaining ways for you to spend your days. (And if you’re wondering who wrote the clever package names, let’s just say I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I did enjoy a week of snickering at my desk while scheming up rhymes and alliterations)

6. Mix and Mingle

I admit I’m not usually one to schmooze, but even I find it fun to meet and talk to people who care about the same things I do. And perhaps I’m biased, but Plant With Purpose supporters are some of the coolest, most interesting people I’ve ever met. I dare you to introduce yourself to at least 10 people you don’t know. Make that a Double Dog Dare.

7. 25th Anniversary

This year marks Plant With Purpose’s 25^th year of working to reverse poverty and deforestation around the world. That's right, Plant With Purpose was working at the intersection of poverty and deforestation way before creation care was cool. In honor of this milestone, Cesar Lopez, one of the founders of Plant With Purpose, will travel from the Dominican Republic to give a special presentation. Woohoo Plant With Purpose!

8. The Bidding Frenzy

I never cease to be amazed by the supersonic speed with which auctioneers “call” a live auction. Don’t let all the “Um diddle diddle um diddle ays” distract you because you’re going to want to bid on these awesome packages from an Adventures in Fatherhood father/daughter or father/son wilderness excursion to a magnificent Diamond Delight ring (to be modeled by my wonderful roommate) to an All Season High Sierra mountain retreat. Get your paddles ready!

9. The Giving Frenzy

Even more scintillating than the live auction is the Fund A Need “auction” of sorts. Instead of outbidding fellow tablemates, this is a chance for guests to pledge their support to Plant With Purpose’s life-changing programs. Every year I’m blown away by how much people give. I find myself saying to my neighbor (usually another broke college student), “Did they seriously just raise their paddle to give $20,000?” It’s inspiring and amazing and really really really cool to watch the excitement as people give joyously and generously. So inspiring, in fact, that I made my friend hide my paddle the first year I volunteered at the gala for fear that I would commit myself to give thousands of dollars that I didn’t possess. Building a cistern in Tanzania or paying for a semester of college? Seriously, it’s a tough choice.

10. The [Aly Lewis] Cry Fest

I will cry. And yes, this is a good thing. Every time I hear anyone speak on our life-changing programs or talk about the stories of transformation and restoration that Plant With Purpose is helping to bring about, I am moved to tears. I wish I was the kind of person who could cry on demand, but trust me, I can’t. So if you see my eyes glisten while our Executive Director, Scott, talks about Plant With Purpose’s accomplishments over the last 25 years, know that I’m legitimately moved. Witty banter and sarcastic comments aside, I am deeply grateful to be a part of this ministry, to connect with and empower rural farmers around the globe, and to join with others in taking baby steps of selflessness and compassion that spur us toward becoming more loving, more compassionate, and more fully engaged in our world. I think that’s something worth celebrating.

Don’t miss out on this amazing evening! To r.s.v.p. online, please visit http://www.floresta.org/gala2009/index.html or contact Kate McElhinney at (858) 274-3728 or kate@floresta.org.

*Don’t worry, I will not actually be wearing socks with my little black dress. My socks will only figuratively be knocked off.

Plant With Purpose's 25th Anniversary

by Aly Lewis

This year marks Plant With Purpose's 25th Anniversary! That's right, Plant With Purpose was working at the intersection of poverty and deforestation way before fear of global warming spurred us to live more sustainably or Kiva made 'micro-loan' a household word. Before creation care and things like the Red Campaign were even cool.

In honor of our very exciting Silver Anniversary, we will be blogging about the greatest and most gasp-inducing moments in Plant With Purpose history. Leading up to our official celebration at our Planting Hope Gala on October 10th, we will highlight some of our biggest milestones (like planting over 4 million trees!) and bring you old-school stories from our

Executive Director, Scott Sabin (like the time he came back from a business trip to discover he was the only employee left on staff). We'll take you on a journey from our humble beginnings in the deforested hillsides of the Dominican Republic to the hope and transformation we've seen in our newest program in Burundi.

Join us as we celebrate 25 years of empowering rural farmers around the world!

Planting Hope Gala

Plant With Purpose is gearing up for our annual Planting Hope Gala! The event will once again take place at the La Jolla Marriott on October 10, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., and will be hosted by former NBC 7 morning news anchor, Bill Menish.

Beyond being our biggest fundraising event of the year, the gala is an opportunity for us to highlight our programs and share Plant With Purpose’s restorative work and success. And this year is going to be a huge celebration as we recognize our 25^th anniversary!

In honor of this milestone, Cesar Lopez, one of the founders of Plant With Purpose, will travel from the Dominican Republic to give a special presentation. The evening will also include silent and live auctions, including a "Fund-a-Need" opportunity where participants can directly support program needs such as reforestation efforts, mushroom projects, cisterns and latrines, and animal husbandry.

Some of our auction items include golfing and lunch at the Bridges Golf Club, an extravagant facial package at Neiman Marcus, several spectacular ski packages, ancient coins, and gift certificates to local San Diego attractions. All proceeds will go toward helping to transform thelives of the rural poor in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Mexico, Burundi and Tanzania.

The gala is an excellent opportunity to invite friends and family to learn more about Plant With Purpose’s restorative work. Tickets are $105, and various sponsorship opportunities are available.

All guests who r.s.v.p. by September 21st will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to the San Diego Repertory Theater! We hope you will be able to join us for this elegant and inspiring evening.

To r.s.v.p. online, please visit http://www.floresta.org/gala2009/index.html. If you wish to donate a tax-deductible item to the auction, volunteer, or be a sponsor, contact Kate McElhinney at (858) 274-3728 or kate@floresta.org.