Month: November 2015

Giving Back by Getting Involved

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This past Spring, I joined the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (fondly known as the WBN) to meet new people in our community and find out about resources available for entrepreneurs. The WBN ladies were so warm and welcoming that they didn’t even let me officially become a member before asking if I’d like to get involved as a volunteer! But as anyone involved in a community organization knows, the best way to make connections and get the most from a group is not by simply showing up to events — it’s by jumping in, helping out, and getting your hands dirty. (Metaphorically speaking, of course…)

Luckily, there was a perfect opening for me with the WBN’s Communications Committee, and I’m thrilled to have joined this hard-working group. The WBN is currently preparing to host its annual Holiday Gala & Auction event, taking place December 2 at the Holiday Inn, which will serve double-duty as the last meeting of 2015 for members as well as an exciting fundraiser for the YWCA. Members of the WBN and generous sponsors from around Peterborough and the Kawarthas are donating items for live and silent auctions, through which the WBN hopes to raise $15,000 in support of the YWCA’s Crossroads Shelter. I had the opportunity to contribute to the event with a press release sharing the details with our community.

Women in the Peterborough area are encouraged to attend the Holiday Gala as guests — registration is open until Friday, November 27, and can be completed online at womensbusinessnetwork.net. Or, if you’re interested in donating an item to the live or silent auction, please contact the WBN or the YWCA. I’m very much looking forward to attending the Gala as a special way to kick off this holiday season, while supporting such an important cause.

Press Release: Women’s Business Network Celebrates the Season at Annual Holiday Gala

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Live and silent auctions aim to raise $15,000 to support Nutritional Well-Being program for Peterborough women and children at YWCA Crossroads Shelter

Monday, November 23, 2015, Peterborough, Ontario

The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) will host a special evening of seasonal spirit at its annual Holiday Gala and Auction on Wednesday, December 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. With the theme of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, this year’s Gala will honour women in the Peterborough community by raising funds to support the YWCA Crossroads Shelter with the proceeds of live and silent auctions.

“The WBN Holiday Gala and our Auction supporting Crossroads has really demonstrated to me how the Peterborough community comes together to support worthy causes,” said Louise Racine, Program Director for the WBN. Fellow Program Director Denise Travers added, “It is wonderful working with YWCA and connecting with the community. Thank you to all the sponsors and donors who have once again been very generous with their gifts.”

The festive evening will feature a social hour with mulled wine, a delicious plated traditional turkey dinner with a seasonal vegetarian option, and the exciting live and silent auctions, featuring items donated by businesses and individuals across Peterborough and the Kawarthas. WBN Members are invited to bring their female colleagues, friends, and/or clients to network, socialize, and celebrate with other local business women. Registration for guests costs $40.00 and the deadline is Friday, November 27, at 12:00 noon. Guests may register online at womensbusinessnetwork.net.

Each year, the WBN shows its support for women in crisis by directing funds raised at the Holiday Gala and Auction to the YWCA Crossroads Shelter. “In Canada, half of all women over 16 will experience at least one form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. That’s why the Women’s Business Network’s support of the YWCA is so important – because until the violence stops, neither can we,” said Jen Cureton, Director of Philanthropy and Communications, YWCA Peterborough.

“With the generosity of our community, we provide the basic human right of safety to hundreds of women and children each year and help thousands of others to escape violence and rebuild their lives. Your donations ensure that when a woman needs help, we can provide it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The WBN is proud to announce its 2015 fundraising goal of $15,000 to support the YWCA’s Nutritional Well-Being program at the Crossroads Shelter. This program provides healthy food, supplements and vitamins to women and children 365 days a year, which costs $10.88 per person per day. By raising $15,000, the WBN Holiday Auction has the power to provide 1,388 days of food and well-being for local women and children staying at Crossroads. In addition to receiving healthy meals for themselves and their children, women benefiting from the Nutritional Well-Being program learn about meal planning, food preparation and principles of nutrition.

If you would like to donate an item for the silent or live auction, please contact Nicole Pare at npare@ywcapeterborough.org.

About the WBN
The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough is a networking channel for women who wish to enhance and expand their business contacts and grow their businesses. Formed in 1961 as the Peterborough Chapter of the Canadian Advertising and Sales Association, the network has evolved into a dynamic and growing membership of women with diverse backgrounds and careers who meet to share their knowledge and experience and promote their businesses. From September to June a diverse program of learning, sharing, and socializing is provided for members. Guest speakers, trade shows, special events, and gala socials make the WBN the premier network for women in the Kawarthas and surrounding areas. For more information, please visit womensbusinessnetwork.net, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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For further information or for media queries, please contact:
Publicity@womensbusinessnetwork.net