One Day of Philanthropy...A Lifetime of Gratitude!

On May 6, 2014, charities around the country are counting on you to make a donation. Yes, this day is designated as National Giving Day. Our focus for giving is to YELL!Girls who are going to college.

Girls are our legacy to the world. As women, we know how it feels to be a girl. But, we also know there are things that happen to us that makes us feel no one understands us. Algebra Blessett says it best in her song, Nobody But You, when she says, "Everybody won't understand my journey; everybody won't know how to hear what hurts me; everybody can't be written into my story; just because they want me don't mean they're ready for me!" I can relate to that because...I was that girl and many of you are that girl also.

See the problem is many of us can relate to that story but what are we doing about it?

Every 26 seconds a child drops out of school, even worse, the only grade level girls drop out more than boys is in the 12th grade (U.S.Department of Education, 2014). While there are many variables, pregnancy, marriage, peer pressure, and disconnect from school are some of them.

So don't TALK about it, BE about it! Here are 3 ways you can support girls in your community: advocate, volunteer, and donate!

ADVOCATE

The working definition for advocate is "publicly recommend or support." When a person becomes an advocate, they become "a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy"(Merriam-Webster, 2014). I am not sure how you interpret this, but, for me, this goes with the saying, Stand for something or fall for anything. Speak up...ADVOCATE! That is what girls need us to do for them. Tell them we believe in them, we support them, and we will tell others about the need to support the next generation of girls. Besides, they are our future. They will run the world when we are older (or seasoned) and need a voice for our gender. There were those before us, Susan B. Anthony, who fought for the right to work. Shirley Chisholm, who fought for the right to be YOU in politics and society. What better reason to fight now, than for girls to BE THEMSELVES and grow and prosper based on their talents, skills, and ability!!

Essence of a Lady Inc. has been advocating for women and girls for 25 years. I have been on the front line, helping girls as a volunteer, in schools, church, the community, and one-to-one mentoring. I have helped girls stay in school when they were contemplating dropping out, helped women refocus after being dumped by a man, helped girls find scholarship money when they thought they could not go to college, and helped women develop, build and fund their businesses when they did not believe it was possible. Who are you advocating for and how are you doing it?

Essence of a Lady Inc. can use you as an advocate. Tell people, especially other women, what we are doing to educate, mentor, and empower girls by directing them to our website, and encouraging them to join the network. Then, they are one step closer to advocating for a cause, our girls. After that, the next step is stepping up to the plate and doing something...volunteering. 

Our gift to you is a FREE Listing for your business, educational program, or nonprofit.

                                         VOLUNTEER

One of the most important things we can do for humanity is give back. Ron Simmons, a reknown philosophist called it "THROW THE ROPE BACK!" His thought was someone helped us become who we are, now, as adults, it is our turn to throw the rope back. I have been a volunteer since I was 10 years old, when I tutored a second grade girl who was struggling in reading. I read to her daily for 20 minutes when I was in the fifth grade. A inevitable way to ensure I spent time with my daughters when they were young was through volunteering...in church, the community, and schools. Through Girl Scouts, PTA/PTO and Homeowners Association boards, and now as Chair of the Board for Essence of a Lady, Inc.

Essence of a Lady Inc is in desperate need of you to volunteer as a mentor, speaker, or committee member at our events.We offer opportunities for you to conduct seminars, group mentoring sessions, become a one-to-one mentor, become a speaker at our annual conference, and/or partner with us to provide products and services to girls. Are you giving of your time and/or talent to girls?

DONATE

The ultimate gift, and the common way of giving as a philanthropist, is donating cash (Forbes.com, 2014).
Forbes mentioned most people give to causes such as school alma maters, universities, and national and local charities. Kimbria has gone one step further to encourage philanthropy by creating GiveLocalAmerica. May 6, 2014 has been declared National Giving Day. You can make donations to charities in your community. Essence of a Lady Inc is listed in GiveLocalHouston and GiveLocalJacksonville because we are raising money for graduating YELL!senior girls. 

Now, more than ever, Essence of a Lady Inc needs your support. We work with over 200 high school girls at East Early College High School. Approximately 75 are graduating. Our goal is to give 10-$500 scholarships during our annual Females are FABULOUS Conference September 5-7, 2014. I registered on April 1, 2014, therefore there are only 41 days left. Please support!!! For more information and to see how we have created a win-win situation for the girls and you, go to Indiegogo. 
How will you contribute to helping your community as a PHILANTHROPIST on May 6, 2014?

I have outlined 3 ways to become a philanthropist. Whether you advocate, volunteer, and donate to Essence of a Lady Inc to support YELL! Girls or any other 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Remember, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, BE ABOUT IT!! Participate in National Giving Day and make the difference in a girl's life forever!

LEVERAGE Your Business: 3 Ways to Invest in Yourself and Your Community of Women=Owned Businesses

In March 2012, I began to recruit women to support the Females are FABULOUS conference. At that time, I began my journey to truly live out my purpose to build Essence of a Lady Inc's (E/LInc) brand and raise money for scholarships and YELL! programs. I began seeking women entrepreneurs to become a part of this educating, mentoring, and empowering conference called Females are FABULOUS. This conference was envisioned May 2011 when I was at another associates' fundraising brunch with one of E/LInc's board member.

As I began my networking journey to recruit women entrepreneurs to enhance the support I already had in the E'Ladies Network, a program of E/LInc which recruits women to advocate, volunteer, and donate to our mentoring program for school-aged girls called Young Essence Ladies...Learning(YELL!). To be frank, I have always supported women and girls. May 1989, 25 years ago, I was so determined to support women, I brought over 20 women together to support each other and girls through Essence of a Lady, Inc.(E/LInc), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

The problem is women say they support each other, but when it comes to spending money with women-owned small businesses,they continue to FALL SHORT!

Research shows:
65% of women entrpreneurs continue to work at other jobs and 75% of them continue to work full-time jobs!

This begs the question, how are we investing in ourselves and the community, yet we are not supporting women-owned businesses/nonprofits?

Here are three ways to evaluate your support of women-owned businesses:

1.Does your goals include women=owned businesses as collaborative partners?

When you are creating your strategic plans, Make them more productive by including small businesses that offer services you need for your business or your clients/customers.
Step 20 of 26 Time Management Tips tells us to "DELEGATE if it can be done 80% as well by others." Last year, I spent thousands of dollars using women to create business products, including my website and design business cards, postcards, posters, and banners. Yes, Marcia Hylton at Clickgrapix  created eLadies.biz, Myrna Galan at Galan Graphix is my official graphic designer, and Theresa Allen, at Pamper Your Biz is my virtual assistant for FAB Conference and she gets my printing done after Myrna creates it. Also, I purchase services to help me market and promote my events and projects with women-owned television and radio hosts for interviews and speaking conferences, etc. Tina Dixon does social media, Jeanette Harris has Choices with Jeanette and NOW Network and I am finalizing a deal with Melissa "Anne" Santos with The Anne Network, a syndicated Radio Show.

2.  Are You Investing in Yourself with Women "Influencers?"

Check out women who you feel can help you LEVERAGE your business by being connected with them. These women are called "INFLUENCERS" because they have established themselves as experts in their field, they have at least 3 years experience and a loyal following who will support them whereever they go.

They are women whom you have or would like to establish a business relationship with. I have paid money for products from Kim Roxie, LAMIK Cosmetics, to participate in masterminds with Kristi Jackson and Dawniel Winningham; paid for events to support Tonya Hofman, and programs with Vernetta Freeney, Jill Lublin, just to name a few, to connect with them to support my event or cause. In return, they have supported YELL!Mentoring through the E'Ladies Network. These women are reliable, dependable, and very professional.

3.Are You Investing in Your Community with a Strategic Plan?

When you invest into your community, you give back to it on a monthly basis. The good book tells us to "give out of the goodness of our heart, without expecting ANYTHING in return!" Philanthropy is giving of your time, talent, and resources. Serve, don't sell! Justina Page, Amos House of Faith, has made this statement her mission. She obviously heard this from women in Public Speakers Association because after I heard her say it, a few days later, it resonated thoughout the PSA conference. This soundbite represents what I have always believed but never expressed so clear and concise. When you include financial support in your monthly budget, you are sowing a seed. By advocating, volunteering, and donating to promising and achieving women-owned businesses/nonprofits, you have the opportunity to receive blessings 100-Fold because you are living out GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE! Dr. Alma Allen, Texas State Representative has sown seeds in my life since I met her over 25 years ago as mentor and strongest supporter of E/LInc.

When you incorporate these three tips into your business, you will be able to watch your business grow by building strategic partnerships, becoming a philanthropist, and LEVERAGING your life based on God's purpose for you.

To ensure you continue, join eLadies.biz, where women buy, sell, and barter with women entrepreneurs! Also, where women can find resources, post events, and market and promote their businesses or non-profits!

Get your FREE LISTING for your business/non-profit OR Register for FREE as a customer ALWAYS! Go to www.eladies.biz!